The oil tanker drivers and owners of Tripura have gone for an indefinite strike in demand of immediate repair of the National Highway (NH) 44, where hundreds of vehicles are stranded due to the poor condition of the road.
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The protesters on Thursday gathered in front of the main depot of the Indian Oil in Dharmanagar, asking the government to fulfil their demand.
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The protesters alleged that neither the Tripura nor the Assam government have taken any measure to repair the NH 44 between Churaibari in Tripura border to Karimganj in lower Assam.
According to them, due to incessant rain and continuous movement of heavy loaded vehicles the condition of the road had deteriorated to such an extent that it has become dangerous to ply vehicles.
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"For the last two to three years, there has been no maintenance of the roads here. Drivers are the worst sufferers of this and it is still continuing. Many vehicles are stranded there due to breakdown of various parts," said Ratan Debnath, a protesting driver.
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The drivers will continue their strike until the road condition of NH 44 is improved.
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NH 44 is the lifeline of Tripura as it is the lone highway that connects the state with Assam and through which all commodities enter the state.
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The strike of the oil tankers is likely to create fuel crisis throughout Tripura since the state is totally dependent on the tanker service for carrying fuel from Assam and rail connection has also stopped for gauge conversion.