Aizawl: Chief Minister Lalduhoma met with the leaders of the Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union on Monday to discuss the challenges posed by the deteriorating road conditions across the state. The meeting was attended by Vanlalhlana, the PWD and Transport Minister, TBC Lalvenchhunga, Adviser to the Chief Minister (Finance), and other PWD officials.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister acknowledged that there has been a significant amount of rainfall this year, resulting in frequent landslides and floods. He explained that a large portion of the state’s budget has been allocated to clearing roads, limiting the government’s ability to undertake new initiatives. Lalduhoma requested the Union’s understanding, emphasising the difficulties caused by the heavy rainfall and stating that the government is doing everything within its power to address the situation.
Lalduhoma also announced plans to personally visit the Kawnpui and Khamrang roads, which have been heavily affected by the weather. He mentioned that the road’s construction is under the responsibility of Satguru Construction, with a maintenance contract in place until May 2026. However, due to the ongoing maintenance period, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has not taken over responsibility for the road, resulting in its current poor condition.
In response to the situation, the Chief Minister said that the state government has decided to terminate the existing contract and redirect the available maintenance funds to the Mizoram PWD account for repairs and reconstruction.
In a related issue, the Chief Minister addressed the concerns of Sumo Service operators, who had suspended services due to poor road conditions. The operators requested immediate repairs to enable them to resume operations, and Lalduhoma assured them that the government is working towards a solution.
He also provided updates on the Manipur border road between Kawlkulh and Hliappui, stating that the government has approved a new contractor under PMGSY 3 for the complete reconstruction of the road. Additional machinery such as JCBs has also been requisitioned to expedite the process.
The leaders of the Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union raised further concerns about the poor road conditions, the rising cost of fuel, increased vehicle maintenance, and the influx of private cars from other states. They also discussed the importance of fitness tests for vehicles and the need to regulate out-of-state vehicles.
In a related development, the Mizoram Oil Tanker Driver Association (MOTDA) and the Petroleum Entrepreneurs and Transporters Union of Mizoram announced that they would halt operations from Tuesday due to the worsening conditions on National Highways 306 and 6. These highways serve as the main transport routes for essential goods to Mizoram, and their current state has posed a high risk of accidents, forcing the associations to suspend their operations until the roads are repaired.
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