AGARTALA, June 16 (TIWN): Manik Sarkar Govt’s blunder of snatching NH-44 from Central Govt run BRO (Border Roads Organization) to State PWD in July 16, 2013 resulted terrible deterioration of Highway’s condition over 3 years. State CPI-M Govt looted massive centrals funds allocated for renovation of this Tripura’s lifeline. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar to Transport Minister Manik Dey, none of these lameduck leaders bothered to undertake urgent fixing of this important highway, so the job finally undertaken by State BJP President Biplab Deb. So, a ray of hope for the renovation of NH44 from Lowerpoa to Churraebari section which is left in dilapidated condition over past many months as BJP state President Biplab Deb held a meeting on Thursday with Assam CM Sarvananda Sonowal at Guwahati and discussed several issues related to the renovation of the NH44 which is left in poor condition over past several months. However, after years of struggle, now with the initiative of the BJP government central ministry has sanctioned an amount of Rs28 crore for the renovation of the NH44 from Lowerpoa to Churraebari section within 7 days. BJP state president Biplab Deb sought intervention of Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari for immediate renovation of NH44 as the road has turned immovable which is affecting the common people.

Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari has asked to complete the renovation work within 7 days.

It is to be mentioned here that after passage of almost 3 years, for the first time with the initiative of BJP government Highway roads commissioner PC Bora along with others visited the NH 44 road few days back between Lowerpoa to Churaebari (upto Tripura entrance) section to take a note of the status of the road which has turned miserable for movement of vehicles over past 3 years.

However, after years of struggle, now with the initiative of the BJP government central ministry has sanctioned   an amount of Rs28 crore for the renovation of the NH44 from Lowerpoa to Churraebari section within 7 days.

The National Highway 44 (NH-44) of the so called Golden Era state Tripura in a bad shape since the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway (MoRTH) handed over the development and maintenance work 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 getting worse day-by-day due to the negligence of PWD officials. And undoubtedly, the CPI (M) and its left front govt. have got another pathway for the central fund embezzlement, that comes here in Tripura for the maintenance work of the NH 44 road.     

Earlier, when the maintenance work of NH-44 was under Border Roads Organization (BRO) the maintenance work was progressing in a rapid speed. But then, the PWD expressed dissatisfaction over the Assam—Agartala National Highway (NH 44) into four lanes and made out another opportunity for central fund embezzlement. According to a highly placed sources, at present the PWD officials and some Melarmath bigheads are on a race to embezzle funds sanctioned by the central government for the welfare of the state.

However, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari has asked to complete the renovation work within 7 days.

It is to be mentioned here that NH44 is in poor condition for past three consecutive weeks and this landslide has added much more problem.  The NH has literally turned into a paddy field as the black top has been washed away in torrential rain and which has totally ceased movement of vehicle entering and moving out of Tripura.

National highway 44 is one such road which gets worsened even for small rains. The condition of the road deteriorated due to heavy rains. As it is the only highway which connects Tripura with the rest of the country, the transport completely blocked.

Thousands of vehicles stranded at Assam’s Lowerpoah area as the Assam-Agartala national highway virtually turned into paddy field due to heavy monsoon since April.

With the initiative of the BJP government at Assam, development has now begun in true sense. So far congress in Assam in collaboration with CPI-M in Tripura has denied the development of the transport system of the state creating problem for the common people.

The fact that Tripura has been temporarily cut off from the rest of the Nation due to the Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH-44) being water-logged can be cited as a serious case of concern as this highway is considered as the life-line of the State.

The state is connected with the rest of India by only one road (NH-44) that runs through the hills to the border of Karimganj District in Assam and then winds through the states of Meghalaya, Assam and North Bengal to Calcutta.