AGARTALA, Dec 18 (TIWN) : NH-44, which connects Tripura with rest of the country is considered as life line for the State, since there is no other alternative surface connectivity. The Highway was earlier developed and maintained by the Border Road Organisation (BRO). Due to poor performance of the BRO, the responsibility of the maintenance of this important road, about 350 kms stretch of the Highway from Sabroom to Churaibari(within Tripura State) was handed over to the State Public Works Department by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways(MoRT&H), since the beginning of this financial year. The residual part of the Highway, about 300 kms from Churaibari to Guwahati via Shillong is still being maintained by the BRO and other organizations.

Though the responsibility of the maintenance this National Highway has been distributed to the different organizations, but the things did not improve instead of further deteriorating, due to non-release of required fund by the MoRT&H. During last monsoon season, about 150 kms stretch from Ambassa to Hailakandi was almost washed out, effecting thousands of vehicle stranded on the Highway for couple of weeks. The situation is still continuing, no improvement has been made due to want of required fund.

The Railway operation from Silchar to Agartala is still suspended since the early part of this year, due to gauze conversion, which shall take another one year to resume, which shall amount continued  hardship of Tripura people.

In this context, I urge for immediate intervention of the MoRT&H and Ministry of Finance that the required fund for maintenance and development of the NH-44 and NH-44A (which is connecting Tripura with Mizoram) be expedited that the people of Tripura are relieved from this ordeal in transporting their required food grains, medicines, fertilizers, construction materials and other essential commodities.

I would also appeal to the Government to augment the works of the double laneing/widening of the road from Sabroom to Agartala, and to start the works of the another road from Kukital to Sabroom via- Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai, Teliamura, Amarpur, Karbook and Silacharri, which is connecting the hilly and most backward region of the State.