Assam: Poor condition of highway sparks outrage in Samaguri, residents threaten election boycott

The critical Samaguri Highway, a vital route connecting numerous regions, including Chapanala, Kathalguri, Udmari, Nonai Gardens, Rangamati, and Shalna, is now in a severely deteriorated state. Once a well-paved road, it has fallen into disrepair, with large potholes resembling ponds forming along its bumpy surface. 

The situation has worsened due to the frequent passage of heavy vehicles, including approximately 200 dumpers, which transport stone from quarries located on the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong border. These dumpers, navigating the severely damaged road, have caused multiple crashes, endangering both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

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Local residents have voiced their frustration, highlighting that their repeated appeals for the road's repair have gone unheeded by the responsible authorities. Despite numerous requests, neither the concerned department nor public representatives have taken meaningful action. This neglect has now escalated to public protest, with both the affected community and local student union leaders expressing their discontent.

In a show of escalating frustration, the victims, along with the office-bearers of the local students' union, have issued a stern warning. They have threatened to boycott the upcoming by-elections and the 2026 assembly elections if the highway, which falls under the newly-designated Barhampur constituency, is not promptly reconstructed to a safe standard for traffic. 

The situation now calls for urgent intervention from state authorities to address the grievances of the local population and restore the highway to its former condition.