DIBRUGARH, Aug 25 - The Indian National Congress led by former minister Prithibi Majhi and the party�s district president Dr Anwar Hussain today took to the streets in protest against the failure of the Narendra Modi-led Central government in repairing and maintaining the National Highways of Assam as also for not releasing Central funds to the State.
The INC�s Dibrugarh District Congress Committee (DDCC) blocked the NH 37 near Convoy Road intersection with banners and placards for about an hour in the morning hours. The blockade caused traffic jams at several places as hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on roads. The protesters also raised anti-BJP and anti-Modi slogans.
It needs to be mentioned here that the National Highways in the State are in their worst forms. The roads are deteriorating every passing day thus causing inconvenience to commuters and immense damage to the plying vehicles. As per the recent policy decision of the Union Ministry of Road Transport, Highways & Shipping, the National Highways comprising NH 37 from Numaligarh to Dibrugarh, NH 37 from Nagaon to Kaliabor, NH 37 (A) from Kaliabor to Dolabari, NH 15 (52 Old) from Dolabari to Holongi (Arunachal Pradesh) via Gohpur and NH 52 in Panchgram area and Silchar ISBT comes under the Union Ministry�s newly set up National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). Earlier, these stretches of National Highways were under Assam�s PWD department.
The Congress party has urged upon Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Shipping to instruct the concerned authority to take immediate steps for maintenance and development of the highway stretches, failing which the party said that the Union Ministry must revert to the earlier policy and allow the Assam Government to develop and maintain the mentioned stretches of the highways.
The blockade was attended by hundreds of Congress workers and office bearers of various affiliated associations including members from its youth, women, students, minority, seva dal units etc.
The highway blockade by the Congress was called off at around 11:45 am.
