Silchar, May 7: Silchar's most vital urban road artery from Capital point till Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) through Central Road-Rangirkhari-Meherpur stretch on the National Highway 306 has become a daily ordeal, with battered stretches, water-filled craters and crumbling surfaces turning routine travel into a test of endurance.
The NH 306 (Urban Link), especially from Meherpur to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), is now a corridor of chaos, triggering sharp political reactions and public outrage.
Daily commuters, including office-goers, students, patients and emergency vehicles, are navigating what many describe as a "minefield of potholes."
With pre-monsoon showers exposing the poor durability of recent repair work, the situation has worsened of late. Traffic snarls, vehicles getting damaged and heightened accident risks have become part of everyday life along this crucial stretch.
Adding weight to the growing concern, Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha has written to the General Manager (Project) of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), flagging the "deteriorating condition" of the highway from Capital Point to SMCH via Rangirkhari.
In his letter sent to the General Manager on Wednesday, he underscored the presence of multiple potholes, uneven surfaces and severely damaged patches, stating that these pose "serious safety hazards" to commuters, particularly patients and students who rely heavily on this route.
Highlighting the urgency, Purkayastha stressed that the road is critical for emergency services and overall traffic flow, especially during the monsoon.
While he mentioned that the Assam PWD has initiated work on connecting stretches towards SMCH and Kathal Road, the Rajya Sabha MP clearly pointed out that the main segment under NHIDCL's jurisdiction, which is from Capital Point via Rangirkhari, is 'neglected'.
He called for immediate restoration, stating that timely intervention would ease traffic, reduce accident risks and provide much-needed relief to the public.
Meanwhile, echoing the public anger, Silchar Lok Sabha MP Parimal Suklabaidya expressed "deep anguish" over the declining quality of the road.
He revealed that in a previously held meeting before the Assembly elections at the District Commissioner's office, he had repeatedly advised the executing agencies to ensure durable construction standards.
The stretch has added significance due to the presence of several private nursing homes and its direct linkage to the SMCH, making its condition a matter of public health concern as well. Recently, residents of the Meherpur area, frustrated with the situation, had approached the district administration demanding urgent repairs.