AGARTALA, Dec 15 (TIWN): If everything falls in place, NH44 renovation work is likely to begin from Tuesday in full swing at different spots, said PWD Chief Engineer Dipak Das. Talking to TIWN correspondent, PWD Chief Engineer said that the construction agency has agreed to the terms and conditions and is also scheduled to begin the work from Tuesday.However, he further said if weather remains good the work will be maintained smoothly but if untimely rain hit the state the work may be delayed.He further said that though renovation is underway at several spots but so far there is no proper glimpse of renovation yet. However, fromDecember 15 the work will begin in full swing, said Deepak Das. The deplorable condition of National Highway 44 – the only road connectivity that links mainland India with the eastern part of Meghalaya, Barak Valley in Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura – has for a long time now remained a harrowing experience for helpless commuters.Frequent disruption of vehicular movement, seasonal landslides and alarmingly high rates of tragic accidents that claims scores of lives, have become the order of the day. But so far none of the authorities responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of the arterial road have come to the rescue of the commuters.

The bad road condition also poses tremendous dangers to pedestrians and villagers who live on either side of the highway. On many occasions, pedestrians have reportedly been injured with stone chips hitting them, as vehicles pass by.
However, the State PWD official has raised hopes among the commuters that their troubles would soon be over.

Allegation rose that the condition of National Highway has worsened after it was handed over to the State PWD by NHAI.

After the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway (MORTH) handed over development and maintenance of 104 km of the Assam Agartala National Highway (NH-44) to the PWD from Border Roads Organization (BRO) in July 16th, 2013, the condition of the NH-44 is allegedly getting worse day-by-day due to negligence of PWD.

It is to be mentioned here that Keeping in mind of the poor condition of Assam-Agartala National Highway, the state government has decided to use NEC Highway- Kokital to Dharmanagar via Kathaltali to transport essential items to the state as an alternative route and the sources also say that the alternative road is also left in poor condition.