The Gauhati High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking urgent intervention over the poor condition of National Highway 6 (NH-6) and National Highway 306 (NH-306) in Mizoram. The PIL, filed by a resident of the state, has drawn attention to the crumbling infrastructure and the alleged inaction of the concerned authorities in maintaining two of the most vital lifelines connecting Mizoram to the rest of the country.
A division bench of the court has issued notices to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and the Mizoram state government. The court observed that the matter raised serious concerns regarding the right to safe travel and accessibility, especially for people residing in remote areas of the state.
NH-6 and NH-306 serve as key arterial roads linking Mizoram with Assam and Tripura. NH-6, which passes through the Jowai–Khliehriat–Silchar route, is especially critical for trade and the movement of essential goods. However, reports and citizen complaints have consistently highlighted severe potholes, frequent landslides, washed-away stretches, and inadequate repair work.
The petitioner contended that the highways have turned into death traps, particularly during the monsoon season, with vehicles regularly getting stuck or meeting with accidents. In the PIL, it was noted that “the roads are in such a condition that patients, schoolchildren, and even ambulances find it difficult to travel. Inaction by the authorities is a denial of basic rights.”
In its initial hearing, the Gauhati High Court stated, “The state and central authorities have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that roads in hilly and border states are maintained to a standard that ensures safety, dignity, and connectivity.”
According to residents, the problem is not new but has worsened significantly in recent years. Local transporters and drivers have often voiced their frustration, citing frequent breakdowns and rising maintenance costs. A truck driver from Aizawl, who regularly plies between Mizoram and Assam, said, “Sometimes it takes us two to three days to cross what should be a six-hour stretch. We risk our lives and goods every time.”
Meanwhile, NHIDCL, which is responsible for executing highway infrastructure projects in the Northeast, has maintained that regular maintenance is being carried out and that monsoon-related disruptions are being addressed. However, locals argue that the pace of work is slow and often substandard.
Civil society groups and student organisations have also raised the issue multiple times over the past few years. The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), a prominent student body, has staged several protests and written memorandums demanding immediate attention to the dilapidated condition of national highways.
The court has fixed a date in August for the next hearing and has directed all respondents to submit a detailed report on the current condition of the roads and the timeline for their repair.
The PIL is seen as a significant step toward accountability, with hopes that judicial intervention will compel the relevant agencies to speed up repair and maintenance work. For a state like Mizoram, where connectivity is not just about convenience but survival, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications.
