Assam-Arunachal Road

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has granted national highway status to a road connecting Akajan in Assam with Bam in Arunachal Pradesh, naming it NH-515A.

The route had been in rough shape for years, and local groups had pushed for upgraded status to bring attention and resources to fixing it.

Per the ministry's notification, the highway starts where it meets NH-515 close to Akajan in Assam, then runs through several towns including Likabali, Siji, Garu, Dali and Basar, finally linking up with NH-13 near Bam (sometimes called Bame) in Arunachal Pradesh.

A particular stretch between Likabali and Garu has been singled out as especially rough, with large potholes, sections washed out or blocked by landslides, and crumbling road surfaces that make travel difficult for locals, traders and military personnel heading to border regions.

Problems get worse during monsoon season, when the road's poor state can cut off the flow of basic supplies to key government centers in Arunachal Pradesh. The official gazette entry carries the signature of Shaikh Aminkhan, who serves as director at MoRTH, and the road has now been added under Section 2(2) of the National Highways Act.

Because this road serves as a critical link between the two states and holds strategic value near the border, its elevation to highway status could open the door to federal funding and more serious repair work, including possibly widening it to two lanes throughout.

The Galo Youth Organisation responded positively to the news, framing it as the result of persistent advocacy and calling it a meaningful win tied to this designation they had sought for a long time.

Those with a stake in the road, including residents and commuter advocates, are now pushing for the central government to step in quickly, provide funding, and carry out full double-laning work along the corridor.