Guwahati: A stretch of the Digboi-Margherita road in Tinsukia district has become a major safety trap. High speed breakers, a sharp U-turn, and a narrow lane plague the route near the C Company of the 68th Battalion of the CRPF. Trouble hit Saturday night. A heavy truck overturned after hitting the second speed breaker. Traffic stalled. This was not the first time.
Locals claim the speed breakers lack proper engineering. They create extreme jolts for heavy trucks, forcing drivers to lose balance. The situation stays dangerous because the road is too tight to handle the sharp turn alongside the raised structures. Drivers often struggle to spot the speed bumps at night. They need reflective markings, better lights, and clearer warning signs.
The location sits right by critical infrastructure, including the AOD Digboi Refinery. Residents remember the March 7, 2003, attack when suspected ULFA militants hit a petrol storage tank near this exact spot. Now, locals worry that traffic blocks from flipped trucks could threaten security near these sensitive sites. Durga Puja is coming. Immersion processions will soon pack the road. Committees fear a stranded vehicle will cause chaos.
Puja organizers want immediate action. They requested a joint inspection by the police, district administration, highway authorities, and the CRPF. They demand the current obstacles be replaced or fixed to meet professional standards. One local demand is clear: "reconstruction of the existing speed breakers according to proper road-engineering specifications." The group insists the work must finish before the festival rush to keep the area clear for emergency crews and commuters.
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