Unakoti Commuters Struggle as Assam-Agartala Highway Crumbles

Agartala: A critical section of the Assam-Agartala National Highway connecting Pecharthal and Nabincherra is falling apart. The road is a mess. Massive potholes, stagnant water, and thick mud plague the route in Unakoti district. Monsoon rains have turned the asphalt into a gauntlet for motorists and pedestrians alike.

Drivers are fed up. Toto operator Anupam Chakma says the road has been a disaster for over six months. He insists that life-saving trips to the hospital are now a gamble. "During the rains, vehicles have to move very slowly and sometimes remain stranded in queues for a long time. Taking patients to hospitals becomes particularly difficult," Chakma said.

Mechanical failures are piling up. Gautam Nama, another Toto driver, reports that vehicles frequently get trapped in deep craters, destroying tires and costing drivers money. Commuters claim authorities only perform slapdash repairs that wash away after a few storms. Many residents now suspect contractors are cutting corners on quality and skipping long-term maintenance.

Locals want answers. They are demanding that officials stop the patch jobs and execute comprehensive, durable repairs immediately. Every day the neglect continues, the risk of accidents climbs higher. Authorities have yet to address the complaints or launch a formal inspection of the damaged road.