Tale of two highways: Lamborghinis cruise in Arunachal, potholes cover Assam's Margherita

While residents of Margherita in Assam struggle with a national highway riddled with massive potholes resembling water-filled craters, just across the border in Arunachal Pradesh, high-performance sports cars are speeding effortlessly on smooth roads as part of a major automotive event.

The stark contrast was brought into focus by the Arunachal Himalayan Odyssey – Thrill Run 2025, which flagged off on April 4 and will run until April 13. This 10-day rally covers approximately 2,000 kilometers across the scenic Trans-Arunachal Highway, stretching from the Pangsau Pass on the India-Myanmar border in the east to the Bum La Pass on the India-Tibet border in the west.

The event features some of the world’s most iconic sports cars, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti, Audi, and Porsche, roaring through the mountainous terrains — a clear testament to the growing efficiency of Arunachal Pradesh’s road infrastructure.

While Arunachal showcases its progress with a blend of adventure tourism, infrastructure development, and regional promotion, Assam's neighboring region of Margherita remains plagued by poor maintenance and inadequate road conditions, causing frustration among commuters and residents alike.

The Himalayan Odyssey not only celebrates Arunachal's natural beauty and cultural richness but also underlines the urgent need for neighboring regions like Margherita to prioritize road development to match the pace of infrastructural growth in adjoining states.