It is common knowledge that many roads in the Garo Hills region are deplorable in their condition but if one really were to hold a competition for the worst road in the region, or even the state, the section going through the village of Gonglanggre to near Garobadha would be the hands down winner.
The section falls under the infamous AMPT Road stretch that starts from near the border with Assam until Tura. However, the part being referred to will give drivers of even the strongest will nightmares even though it is only about 4km in length.
The road, which was earlier already in a dilapidated state due to uncountable number of boulder-laden trucks moving along it, including those from neighbouring Bhutan, turned into an absolute nightmare after it was excavated by a contractor at the behest of the Public Works Department but, for reasons best known to them, never completed. What is the clincher is the fact that the road was left in a complete mess.
The repair work on the section was started late last year and was abandoned after just a few days.
“Boulder trucks continued to move through the road. While it was still navigable during the initial few months, the rains brought the nightmare out of the road. We are flabbergasted that something like this was allowed to happen despite the importance of the road to the people of the region,” said a resident of Garobadha, NN Marak.
The road now is in such a condition that if the muck on it does not give you goosebumps, the many metre-deep potholes will definitely give you nightmares. The situation is such that only vehicles with very good height can safely pass through, though even they bear scratches of their ordeal. Most cars have now begun to take an alternate route to ensure the nightmare does not have to be re-lived.
“It’s like you are moving through a bog as most of your car literally goes under mud. There is one section where no matter how skilful you may be at manoeuvring cars, your chamber will still be hit,” added another resident, AM Marak.
While the PWD could not be contacted on the road situation, the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Ram Singh, confirmed that a meeting on the matter had been held and necessary directions given. The meeting was held along with the forest, police and PWD departments recently.
