Overloaded dumpers damaged the Kadamtala–Dharmanagar road, triggering a two-hour protest by locals and transport workers. Heavy trucks, dust pollution, traffic disruption, and road safety concerns led to demands for diverting dumpers to national highways.
The continuous movement of overloaded stone-laden dumpers has caused severe damage to the Kadamtala–Dharmanagar main road, prompting local residents and transport workers to stage a two-hour road blockade on Saturday, severely disrupting traffic in the area.
The protest began at around 4 pm when members of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, along with e-rickshaw drivers and local residents, blocked the road to prevent the passage of dumpers. Notably, the agitators allowed other vehicles to move, restricting only heavy dumpers from crossing the damaged stretch. Protesters alleged that repeated movement of 14- and 16-wheeler trucks carrying stone and coal had rapidly deteriorated a road originally designed for light vehicles.
According to the protesters, the condition of the road has significantly affected daily life, particularly during the dry season. Excessive dust generated by heavy vehicles has reduced visibility, making movement difficult for pedestrians, two-wheeler riders, and small vehicles. Broken road surfaces and loose debris have further increased the risk of accidents, they claimed.
Local residents demanded an immediate ban on the movement of overloaded dumpers along the Kadamtala–Dharmanagar road and insisted that such heavy vehicles be diverted to the designated national highway. They warned that continued use of the road by heavy trucks would accelerate damage and pose serious safety hazards for commuters.
The blockade resulted in long queues of dumpers on both sides of the road, leading to traffic congestion for nearly two hours. Police personnel from Kadamtala police station rushed to the spot and attempted to negotiate with the protesters. However, the agitators refused to lift the blockade until they received concrete assurances from the authorities.
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The situation was resolved after two officials from Dharmanagar subdivision, DCM Giniyas Debbarma and David Holam, arrived at the protest site and assured the demonstrators that their grievances would be addressed. Following the assurance, the blockade was lifted and traffic movement gradually returned to normal.
Police officials stated that the situation was brought under control without any untoward incident. They added that the issue would be formally reported to the concerned departments for appropriate action regarding the movement of heavy and overloaded vehicles on the damaged road.
