Days after suspension of operation by oil tankers and disruption of other essential supplies due to dilapidated condition of NH-6 and 306, the state’s primary lifeline, supply of fuel and other essential commodities has resumed and is limping towards normalcy, a minister said on Sunday. NH-6 and 306 are interlinked routes connecting Mizoram with Assam. Most supplies to the state come through these routes. State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs minister B. Lalchhanzova said that oil tankers and trucks have resumed operation since Friday evening and are entering from other states. He said that tankers have taken load in neighbouring Assam even on Sunday to meet the pressing demands of the general public. The minister said that trucks carrying fuel and essential commodities are continuously entering Mizoram since Friday evening, he said. He also expressed hope that supply of fuel and essential commodities may return to normalcy very soon.
Mizoram has been facing shortage of fuel and essential commodities since last week as hundreds of trucks have stranded on NH-6 and 306 due to the dilapidated condition of the roads caused by heavy monsoon. Earlier, Mizoram Oil Tanker Drivers’ Association (MOTDA) and Petroleum Entrepreneurs’ and Transporters’ Union of Mizoram (PETUM) had suspended operation between September 17 and September 19 due to the dilapidated condition of the national highways. MOTDA president Romel Lalruatdika said that they had lifted the strike on Friday evening after leaders of MOTDA and PETUM inspected the ongoing repairing work of NH-6 particularly Kawnpui-Khamprang sector in Kolasib district. On Saturday, state PWD minister Vanlalhlana and B. Lalchhanzova visited the Kawnpui-Khamrang sector of NH-6 to take stock of the progress of repairing work. Vanlalhlana said that the repairing work on the Khamrang sector, which is the worst affected by monsoon, is in progress and it will be regularly monitored.
He said that the Kawnpui-Khamrang sector of NH-6 is under state PWD and the route was constructed by and under the maintenance of Sadguru Engineers & Allied Services Private Limited. It is currently under defect liability period, which is due up to May 2026, he said. As the Sadguru failed to repair the dilapidated sections of the route, the state government has recently terminated the company’s contract and also forfeited its security deposit amounting to Rs. 35.37 lakh, he said. He said that the Kawnpui-Khamrang sector will be handed over to National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) once the defect liability period is over. According to the PWD minister, the recent monsoon rain has caused severe damage to highways and infrastructural challenges across the state. He said that national highways and intrastate highways were affected by landslides at over 573 places across the state. He said that the NHIDCL has also been urged to repair the worst dilapidated sections along the NH-306, which come under the Central construction agency. He added that the government is making massive efforts to repair the deteriorated sections of national highways and state highways across the state.
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