Tripura is fully dependent on NH 44 highway for supply of essentials, food grain, petroleum products, from different states of India.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal travelled to the state's border with Tripura today, to review the condition of a 20 kilometre stretch on the National Highway 44 that has turned to slush because of incessant rains in the area in the last fortnight.
Most of this road falls on the Assam side of the border and Tripura's transport minister Manik Dey has alleged that both Assam's BJP government and the Centre had remained indifferent for many days on the condition of the road despite repeated reminders. Two days ago, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted about repairing the road on a 'war footing'.
Tripura is fully dependent on this highway for supply of essentials, food grain, fertilisers, petroleum products, construction materials and other commodities from different states of India. For now though, Tripura's capital Agartala is out of petrol. Over 1000 trucks carrying fuel and other essential supplies are stuck on NH 44. Petrol is being sold at nearly Rs 300 per litre in black market, while it is being rationed at the two petrol pumps open in Agartala. The city has over 60 pumps.
"I stood in a queue for five hours and was given petrol worth Rs 200. It's an insane situation. Surely, something needs to be done soonest," said Sanjay Modak, an employee with the state government.
The situation has worsened as train services between Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, southern Assam and rest of India remain cancelled for more than 45 days now, due to damaged railway tracks in the mountainous Dima Hasao district of Assam due to rains and landslides.