Truck drivers and commercial vehicle operators call for a four-day strike to protest poor road conditions in Mizoram

Truck drivers and other commercial vehicle operators in Mizoram’s Kolasib district have called for a four-day strike from October 23 to protest the poor condition of National Highway-306, the state’s vital link, a troubled leader said on Monday (Oct 20, 2025).

The blockade will be led by the Kolasib unit of Mizoram Tipper Association (MTA) and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of drivers and commercial vehicle owners in Kolasib town, he said.

NH-306, part of which is also called NH-6, is the main lifeline of Mizoram and connects the capital Aizawl with the city of Silchar in Assam.

MTP Kolasib Unit Secretary General Vanlallungtiawia Told Told PTI that the Sairang-Vairengte and Kolasib-Bairabi sections of NH-306 are in a deplorable condition after they were repaired in July and August and have become dangerous for trucks and other vehicles to ply on.

He said many vehicles have met with accidents and been damaged due to the poor condition of the roads.

State officials said repair work on the state highway is underway.

Mr Vanlallungtiawia alleged that although the state government and companies are currently repairing the roads, the work is proceeding at a snail’s pace.

The MTA and JAC have demanded that the state government and NHIDCL expedite the repair work as the winter season approaches, he said.

“The repair work is proceeding at a slow pace and if it continues at this pace, the authorities would not be able to complete the work before the rainy season next year,” he said.

Mr. allCL.

“The Centre’s construction department is not giving due importance to the roads it manages in Mizoram,” he alleged.

Earlier, commercial vehicle operators had warned that they would not be liable in case of any untoward incident against the NHIDCL if it fails to repair the highways on time.

Mr Vanlallungtiawia said the blockade will be organized on the Sairang-Vairengte and Kolasib-Bairabi stretches of NH-306 from 7am on October 23 to 4pm on October 26 to increase pressure on the NHIDCL and the state government.

Besides, the Kawnpui-Durtlang highway, a bypass road connecting Aizawl to Kolasib, will also be blocked, he said.

He said emergency vehicles will be exempted from the strike.

The proposed blockade is supported by about 30 local associations of commercial vehicle owners and operators in Kolasib district, he added.

NH-306 was repaired in July and August after being severely damaged by rain.

Meanwhile, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department director Saizikpuii said LPG and oil supplies have been affected by the ongoing repair work.

She said trucks carrying essential items along the way have to stop for several days while waiting for repair work, resulting in irregularities in gas and oil supplies.

However, so far there has been no major crisis, she added.