Daily commuters in Assam’s Lakhimpur district are facing severe hardship due to the poor condition of State Highway 43 (SH-43), which has been rendered nearly unmotorable by deep potholes and damaged stretches, residents and transport operators said.
The highway, which connects Narayanpur, Bihpuria and Laluk, serves as a crucial link for thousands of commuters and provides access to important institutions, including Madhabdev University, Bihpuria College and the Lakhimpur District Civil Hospital. However, large craters and uneven road surfaces have significantly slowed traffic and increased the risk of accidents.
Commuters said vehicles frequently break down while navigating the damaged stretch, leading to long travel delays and rising maintenance costs. Drivers of two-wheelers, autorickshaws and e-rickshaws said they are particularly vulnerable due to the hazardous condition of the road.
Residents expressed frustration over what they described as the authorities’ failure to carry out timely repairs, stating that the situation worsens during rainfall when water fills the potholes, making them difficult to spot.
Officials of the Assam Public Works Department (PWD) have stated that the upgradation of SH-43 has been proposed under the Asom Mala 3.0 road development programme. A tender for improving the 25-km stretch was floated last year, with the project estimated to cost ₹27.46 crore and a completion timeline of 540 days.
Local residents and transport unions have urged the government to expedite repair work and take immediate temporary measures to ensure road safety until the upgradation is completed.
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