Shillong/IBNS: An indefinite blockade by the Meghalaya transporters, led by the Joint Action Committee, began on NH 6, one of the busiest highways of the NorthEast region, on Wednesday, media reports said.

Along with JAC, the residents of East Jaintia Hills joined the protests.

Locals from Tongseng, Kuliang, Pyrtakuna, Umkiang were among the protesters, who packed food and erected tents on NH-6 to carry on the agitation.

The highway, which connects Tripura, Mizoram and a portion of Assam and Manipur, has reportedly suffered massive damage and it was not being attended by the government, the protesters allege.

The members of the committee highlighted that the hazardous condition of the road has affected travel, especially for the people travelling for urgent work and to access hospitals for treatment.

Over the past week, the poor state of the road, between Ratacherra and Tongseng, triggered jams, stranding small vehicles for hours.

The JAC members attributed the dangerous condition of the road to years of negligence and disrepair. They added that the road is constantly in need of repair due to poor quality of construction.

The top layer of concrete is frequently eroded, leaving sections covered with loose gravel that gradually deepens over time, forming pits and bumps.

They sought action against operators of large overloaded trucks that are not fit to ply on the stretch, particularly on the Narpuh-Sonapur Bridge.

On May 22, the JAC along with government officials, police personnel, the magistrates and village headmen from Kongong, Wapung Shnong and Tongseng circle led a crackdown on overloaded trucks.

They intercepted the trucks and stopped them from plying on the highway.

The JAC urged the DC of EJHD to repair the road and demanded strict enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and the Prevention of Damages to Public Properties Act, 1984 by the district administration.