Compensation Demand Again Halts Highway WorkRepeated disruptions on Jatinga–Harangajao corridor raise concerns over project progress

Hills Live News,
Haflong, August 31: Construction work on the Silchar–Saurashtra East-West Corridor was reportedly halted again on Monday after a section of residents of Dalaichunga village near Harangajao obstructed work, demanding compensation.
The latest disruption has occurred on the approximately 25-km Jatinga–Harangajao stretch, an important road link in Dima Hasao district. According to local sources, residents stopped construction of the elevated corridor alleging that compensation due to them had not been paid.
The issue has reportedly surfaced several times in the past few months, with work being disrupted repeatedly over compensation-related grievances. The recurring stoppages have raised concerns over the project’s schedule and prompted questions about the need for an early administrative resolution of the claims.
The Jatinga–Harangajao section of the Silchar–Saurashtra East-West Corridor has long been regarded as a crucial connectivity project for the hill district. The 25-km stretch passes through difficult terrain and has historically faced traffic congestion and road-related problems, particularly during the monsoon.
Recently, two lanes on one side of the elevated corridor at Dalaichunga were completed and opened to traffic, bringing considerable relief to commuters and easing congestion in the area. Following this, the construction agency had intensified work on the remaining two lanes, with the target of opening them to traffic by September 15.
However, Monday’s disruption has once again put that target under a cloud of uncertainty.
People from different sections have stressed that genuine compensation claims arising from land or property acquisition should be addressed promptly by the administration and the concerned authorities. At the same time, they said repeated disruption of a major national infrastructure project could increase both the cost and completion time of the project and cause further inconvenience to the public.
The Jatinga–Harangajao road is particularly important for connectivity between Dima Hasao, the Barak Valley and other parts of Assam. Completion of the elevated corridor is expected to improve traffic movement through the hilly stretch and significantly reduce the long-standing congestion problem.
With the compensation issue emerging as a recurring obstacle, there is now a growing demand for the administration and project authorities to initiate dialogue with the affected residents and resolve the matter at the earliest.
While ensuring fair compensation to genuine affected persons remains the responsibility of the authorities, local residents and other stakeholders have also questioned the repeated stoppage of work on a project of wider public importance.
Following Monday’s incident, the key question is whether the remaining two lanes of the elevated corridor can still be opened within the targeted September 15 deadline.