Dhubri, Jan. 4: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has started the survey for the newly sanctioned 401km National Highway 127B from Srirampur in Kokrajhar district to Nongston in Meghalaya via Dhubri district.

Initially, only the 55km stretch of NH 127B between Srirampur and Adabari in Dhubri district will be surveyed, an NHAI source said.

This part of the highway, known as Dhubri-Kachugaon Road (DK Road), has been in extremely dilapidated condition, especially after last year's flood.

"This road connects the Dooars of Bengal and has been lying in a dilapidated condition for the past 10 years. Light vehicles have almost stopped plying while a few heavy vehicles ply now and then," said Sahidur Haque, a youth of Madhyapetla village who resides along DK Road.

Bijit Roy, a bank employee who travels on this road daily from Dhubri, said, "Because of last year's flood, the bed of Gangadhar river has risen above the road. If the river is not dredged deep prior to construction, flood water will submerge the road during rainy season."

NHAI executive engineer of Golokganj, Mazibar Rahman, said, "We will survey only 55km stretch of NH 127B. The road will be of 14 metres formation (width), including 10 metres black topping. After this survey, a detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared along with the compensation amount against the land to be acquired for expansion of the road."