ITANAGAR, 24 Aug: The All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU) has sought the chief minister's intervention for immediate restoration of the Itanagar (Ganga)-Jullang road, which has remained closed for nearly two years, causing immense hardships to its users.

Expressing dismay over the prolonged closure of the road, the ANSU in a representation to the chief minister urged him to direct the department concerned to immediately start restoration work and reopen the road for public use within a week.

Highlighting the importance of the road, the ANSU said the road serves as an important alternative bypass route in the capital region, and its prolonged closure has severely affected residents, daily commuters, government employees and students, who depend on it for connectivity.

"The prolonged closure of such an important public road cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely," it said.

In the representation, the ANSU stated that a portion of the road near the NES secretariat was washed away during heavy monsoon rainfall, following which the road has remained dosed to traffic, leaving people with no alternative but to use the Jullang-Chimpu road, resulting in longer travel time and causing immense inconvenience to commuters.

The union stated that the residents of Jullang and adjoining areas have repeatedly urged the PWD to undertake restoration work at the earliest, but the prolonged inaction has generated a strong sense of frustration among the affected residents.

The ANSU further stated that the Ganga-Jullang road has historically remained vulnerable to monsoon related damage.

In 2020, it said, a portion of the culvert and approximately 100 metres of the road were washed away due to heavy rainfall, resulting in the closure of the road for several months.

"Such recurring damage dearly necessitates not merely temporary repairs but a permanent and technically sound restoration and protection mechanism," the ANSU stated.

The union further demanded that adequate drainage, culvert protection, retaining structures and other necessary engineering measures be incorporated to prevent recurring damage during future monsoons.

The union warned that it would be compelled to resort to "necessary democratic and constitutional means of agitation" in the larger public interest if no tangible action is initiated within a week.