Arunachal Commuters Demand Urgent Repairs for Crumbling Highways

Itanagar: Deep potholes and eroded surfaces now define major stretches of NH-515 and NH-13 in Arunachal Pradesh. These vital corridors connect central and eastern districts to Assam. Travel is hazardous. Transport operators and residents report that damaged roads have spiked vehicle maintenance costs and added hours to routine trips.

The trouble covers the NH-515 route from Jonai to Pasighat and the NH-13 section past Raneghat Bridge. Critical damage exists near Ayeng village, Siku Bridge, and Mebo Char-ali. These routes carry essential goods and services. They also serve as strategic paths for security forces heading toward the Line of Actual Control.

Responsibility shifted from the Border Roads Organisation to the state Public Works Department back in 2015. Locals fought the move then, fearing a drop in upkeep quality. A 2016 petition warned officials that the state would struggle to maintain the network. Residents now claim those fears were justified. "The roads have not undergone comprehensive renovation over the past decade despite their strategic and economic significance," locals stated.

Crews performed patchwork near Rani and Raneghat last year. It did not last. New holes appeared within weeks of the repairs. Commuters are now demanding that the state PWD and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation step in. They want total restoration, not just quick fixes, to keep the region moving.