Silchar–Haflong Bus Services Suspended Over Passenger Safety Concerns

Hills Live News,
Haflong, Sept 11: The Dima Hasao District Administration and the Transport Department have temporarily suspended all passenger bus services on the Silchar–Haflong route, citing passenger safety along unfinished stretches of the Silchar–Saurastra East–West Corridor (National Highway 27). The ban came into effect on Thursday.

While construction on NH-27 is near completion, several sections remain under active construction and repair, making heavy passenger transport risky. According to official sources, full operations will only resume after the construction agency officially hands the road over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and a formal safety clearance is issued.
Following the sudden suspension, representatives of local bus associations met with Dima Hasao District Commissioner Gayatri Devidas Hailinge on Friday to seek clarity and advocate for an early resumption of services.
Reiterating that traveler safety remains the top priority, the District Commissioner informed operators that resuming bus movement immediately poses significant hazards. However, the administration indicated that if construction stays on schedule and NHAI issues the required clearance, passenger bus services could potentially resume by October 1.
While the ban on heavy buses has left daily commuters—including workers, students, and business owners—facing temporary travel disruptions, the administration clarified that small passenger vehicles (such as light motor vehicles and cabs) are exempt from the restriction and may continue operating along the route.