Mumbai, Nov. 9 -- The Centre has notified the declaration of National Highway 515A, connecting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, under the National Highways Act, 1956. The designation has raised expectations of repairs and infrastructure improvements along one of the region's most difficult road stretches.
According to an official notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the highway begins at its junction with NH-515 near Akajan in Assam. It passes through Likabali, Siji, Garu, Dali and Basar before ending at its junction with NH-13 near Bam, also known as Bame, in Arunachal Pradesh.
The notification comes as the Likabali-Garu section faces severe deterioration. Deep potholes, landslide-related blockades and eroded carriageways have made the route a major obstacle for daily commuters, local traders and security forces travelling towards border areas.
The corridor's condition worsens during the monsoon, when disruptions frequently affect the movement of essential goods to important administrative towns in Arunachal Pradesh. Local residents and commuter groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the road, which is also an important interstate and strategic link.
With the route formally included in the Schedule of the National Highways Act under Section 2(2), stakeholders are seeking central funding, prompt intervention and comprehensive double-laning. The gazette notification was signed by Shaikh Aminkhan, director of MoRTH.
The Galo Youth Organisation welcomed the declaration of the Akajan-Likabali-Bam two-lane strategic road as NH-515A. The organisation said the decision fulfilled a long-standing demand of the Galo community and represented a significant achievement after sustained efforts to secure national highway status for the route.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.