Gaurav Gogoi seeks PM’s intervention as Barak Valley faces total transport breakdown

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 10, 2025

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take urgent steps to end the isolation of Barak Valley, which remains cut off due to recurring transport failures during the monsoon.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Gogoi raised alarm over what he described as the “fragile and deteriorating” state of connectivity to the region. He said the Lumding–Badarpur railway section, which passes through the hills of Dima Hasao, has become chronically unreliable. The stretch has witnessed at least seven major service breakdowns in the last five years due to landslides, embankment collapses, and weak infrastructure, leading to weeks-long suspension of train services and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Gogoi also drew attention to the crumbling condition of major highways—NH 6, NH 27, and NH 37—which are frequently blocked by landslides and flooding, particularly near Sonapur, Jatinga, and Harangajao. He cited the collapse of the Harang Bridge on the Silchar–Kalain route, despite ₹137 crore being spent on its repair, as a glaring failure of road maintenance.

With both rail and road access blocked, the Barak Valley’s 40 lakh residents are now largely dependent on air travel, which Gogoi said has become prohibitively expensive. One-way fares between Silchar and Guwahati have surged to ₹15,000–₹18,000—more than ten times the fare between Guwahati and Agartala—making travel unaffordable for the majority.

Calling the situation a full-blown crisis, Gogoi said the lack of dependable transport is stalling economic growth, delaying critical healthcare, obstructing education, and deepening the sense of neglect among the region’s youth. Despite repeated appeals from local leaders and civil society groups, he said, the Centre has failed to provide a long-term solution.

In his letter, Gogoi proposed a time-bound action plan that includes double-tracking and reinforcing the Lumding–Badarpur railway line with landslide-resistant infrastructure. He also urged the Centre to approve and expedite the long-awaited Lanka–Chandranathpur (Maynarbond) rail link as an alternative corridor.

He requested immediate deployment of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to restore damaged roads and called for the construction of climate-resilient bypasses to maintain connectivity during the monsoon.

To ease the burden on air travellers, Gogoi demanded the reintroduction of Air India or UDAN-subsidised flights on the Silchar–Guwahati–Kolkata route. He also called for fare regulation through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation during times of road and rail suspension.

Additionally, he proposed a dedicated Connectivity Revival Package for Barak Valley, which would include long-term investments in multi-modal transport, including the development of inland waterways along the Barak River.

“The people of Barak Valley have shown immense resilience in the face of repeated disruptions,” Gogoi wrote. “But resilience is no substitute for infrastructure. It’s time the region received the attention and investment it rightfully deserves.”