Tura: The condition of the AMPT( Agia-Medhipara-Phulbari-Tura) road that connects the towns of Phulbari and Rajabala has worsened over the past few months with travel becoming a nightmare for residents.
The segment in question was repaired just before last year’s elections and later underwent a cosmetic upgrade using cement blocks. However, instead of improving the road condition, these blocks have exacerbated the situation, creating uneven surfaces and making navigation challenging, with many sections now higher than the original road. Additionally, the constant passage of stone-exporting trailer trucks from Bhutan, often carrying heavy loads, has further deteriorated the road.
Presently, the stretch from Medhipara to Nidanpur, recently completed by the construction company, offers a smooth ride. However, the situation takes a sharp turn for the worse beyond this point. Approximately 8 kilometers of the road between Nidanpur and Chibinang is in a deplorable state, with vehicles struggling to even shift into 3rd gear.
From Chibinang to Phulbari Bazaar, while the road isn’t entirely dismal, it still presents challenges in various sections.
Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, early this year promised to rehabilitate the road between Nidanpur to Phulbari and keeping to his word, road repair has already begun near Paham, about 15 kms from Phulbari. Complete repairs, to ensure the road becomes easily traversable may however take a little time.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
Beyond Phulbari, the AMPT road becomes a nightmare with potholes and haphazard repair work adding to the woes of locals. In many parts, potholes over a foot deep have to be navigated while in Rajabala Bazaar (picture attached), slush, almost a foot deep makes even walking a difficult proposition. With more rains to come in the coming months, residents are bracing themselves for a difficult year, not only for them but for their vehicles as well.
Also Read | Extreme rainfall events quadrupled in Meghalaya due to climate change, says study