Members of the All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) staged a vigorous protest rally in Nazira, located in Sivasagar district, on Friday. The demonstrators voiced their strong demand for the immediate and comprehensive repair of the historically significant Dhodar Ali Road.
Protest Against Government Inaction
The rally saw participants raising slogans against both the ruling BJP-led state government and the local Congress MLA from Nazira, Debabrata Saikia. The protesters expressed deep-seated frustration over the terrible condition of the 212-kilometre-long road, which serves as a vital link between Kamargaon in Golaghat and Joypur in Dibrugarh. Despite its inclusion in the state's flagship Asom Mala programme, daily commuters continue to face severe hardships due to its crumbling state.
An Abandoned Project and Historical Legacy
The core of the current crisis lies in a stalled renovation project. The work began in October 2021, focusing on a 45-kilometre stretch between Nakachari in Jorhat and Balighat in Sivasagar. The contract, with a budget of Rs 213 crore, was awarded to contractor M/s Shiva Harlalka. However, the contractor abandoned the project midway, leaving it incomplete and exacerbating the road's condition.
Manab Hazarika, the president of Aasu's Sivasagar district unit, highlighted the gravity of the situation. "The Dhodar Ali Road situation has crossed all limits of negligence," he stated. "This historic road, built during the Ahom rule around 1687, has been reduced to a muddy track. The government's inaction is unacceptable, and both the BJP-led government and the local MLA must answer for this failure."
Demands for Accountability and Restoration
Dipankar Saikia, the general secretary of Aasu's Sivasagar district, added to the demands. "We demand immediate restoration of this crucial transportation artery," he said. "There must also be a thorough investigation into why the contractor was allowed to abandon such an important project without facing any consequences. The half-completed work has actually made conditions worse for travellers."
The protest by Aasu is not an isolated incident. Other local organisations, including the Asomiya Yuva Mancha and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, had previously submitted memorandums to district authorities, urging action. With no visible progress despite multiple appeals, Aasu has now intensified its campaign. The student body has issued a stern warning, indicating that larger and more intense protests will follow if immediate corrective steps are not taken by the authorities.
