All Assam Students Union stages protest in Tingkhong, demands urgent repair Of dilapidated NH-52(B)

The All Assam Students Union (AASU) staged a protest at Lengeri in Tingkhong on September 11, demanding immediate repair and reconstruction of the NH-52(B), a key highway connecting Assam with Arunachal Pradesh.

The protest was organised following a call by AASU and under the initiative of the Dibrugarh District Students Union, with more than a hundred members participating in a human chain on the highway. The protesters alleged that NH-52(B) has remained in a severely dilapidated condition for a long time, despite repeated concerns over the poor state of the road.

Raising slogans against the government and authorities, the protesters demanded that the highway be repaired and reconstructed at the earliest. Slogans including “Repair NH-52(B) immediately,” “BJP government, step down,” “Nitin Gadkari go back,” “Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma go back” and “Bimal Bora go back” were raised during the demonstration.

AASU criticised what it described as the government’s failure to properly maintain important national highways despite the continued increase in toll charges. The student body alleged that patchwork repairs were being carried out instead of undertaking comprehensive repair and reconstruction of the highway.

According to the protesters, the Kanubari-Dibrugarh road via Arunachal Pradesh is an important route for people travelling between the two states. Several stretches of the highway have reportedly deteriorated significantly, causing difficulties for daily commuters and other road users.

The poor condition of the highway has also raised concerns over the movement of patients and expectant mothers travelling between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for medical treatment. Protesters said commuters are being forced to endure considerable hardship while travelling along the damaged stretches.

AASU reiterated its demand for immediate and permanent repair of NH-52(B) and urged the concerned authorities to take concrete measures to improve road connectivity along the Assam-Arunachal route.