Silchar: Poor roads across the Barak Valley have disrupted Durga Puja celebrations, inconveniencing thousands of pandal-hoppers in Silchar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi.In Silchar, arterial roads including Sonai Road, Link Road, Panchayat Road, Vivekananda Road, Hospital Road, Central Road, Shivbari Road and Raygarh remain damaged. Several lanes and sub-lanes are also in poor condition, raising safety concerns during the festive rush.Although repairs began on some stretches ahead of Puja, much of the work remains incomplete. Residents said hurried repairs left uneven surfaces, loose construction materials and dug-up sections, making travel especially hazardous at night.With thousands of revellers visiting illuminated pandals, residents expressed concern for the safety of children and elderly devotees. They also criticised the authorities for failing to complete repairs despite repeated complaints.The situation is similar in Sribhumi and Hailakandi, where damaged roads and highways have disrupted traffic for months. In Sribhumi, travellers said the highway linking the district with Silchar now takes two to three hours to traverse because of damaged surfaces, ongoing repairs and congestion. Roads connecting Sribhumi with Kalain, Katigorah and nearby areas have also been affected.Local organisations and residents have sought urgent repairs. The issue reportedly drew the attention of Assam public works minister Krishnendu Paul and minister Kaushik Rai, who discussed expediting repairs with National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited officials.However, work remained incomplete before Puja. Residents said last-minute repairs further disrupted traffic.In Hailakandi, damaged roads and poor maintenance continued to affect connectivity. Residents said repairs should have been prioritised before the festive season.
