SHILLONG, NOV 24: The Jorabat-Umiam stretch (NH-6) witnesses a thousands daily travellers. The route was met with public outrage as deep potholes, uneven surfaces and recurring damage leave the highway hazardous for commuters.
The problem was highlighted by environmental activist Nicholas J. Kharnami who called upon ATCON, the company responsible for constrution and maintenance of the section of the highway to take accountability.
According to Kharnami despite the people repeatedly voicing their complaints, nothing has changed. Leaving the people to what he calls a “dangerous and poorly maintained” road.
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Frustrated by the lack of action, Kharnamic is encouraging the public to join “Operaiton Potholes” and stop paying tolls until the highway is properly fixed.
Using the hashtag #PayNoToll, he challenges the idea of charging commuters for a route that doesn’t meet even the minimum safety requirements, adding that “My Meghalaya My Pride” must start with infrastructure that safeguards its citizens.
DISCLAIMER: All information in this article is drawn from publicly available sources and/or insights provided by the experts consulted.