Almost No Monitoring in Govt Construction Works, Newly Built Concrete Bridge Collapses in Kanchanpur

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, March 25, 2025

There is little to no monitoring in the government construction projects across Tripura, particularly in departments like PWD (Public Works Department), DWS (Drinking Water & Sanitation), and other development projects including in Agartala smart city works . Reports suggest that contractor agencies are forced to pay a 10-20% commission as bribes to local tender mafias, political middlemen, and corrupt officials, including engineering staff. Due to this rampant corruption, project quality has significantly deteriorated, and most projects are not being completed on time.

Despite clear guidelines, most project sites lack signboards displaying essential details such as project cost, execution agency name, timeline, and expected completion date. According to government regulations, these signboards are mandatory at the start and end of every project. However, contractors and government officers are deliberately violating this rule, and no action is being taken against them.

It is reported that due to the lack of monitoring is now directly affecting infrastructure quality. A glaring example of this was recently seen in Dasda, Kanchanpur, where a newly constructed concrete bridge collapsed within days of its completion. The bridge, built with a substantial budget, was expected to last for years but collapsed due to poor-quality construction and lack of oversights.

Instead of taking strict legal action against those responsible, the PWD Engineering Division in Kanchanpur is reportedly trying to cover up the incident. No official investigation has been initiated to determine whether construction standards were maintained or if the project was completed per government guidelines. Instead, officials are allegedly trying to shift the blame and avoid accountability.

This is not an isolated incident. Numerous government projects across Tripura are plagued by corruption and lack of transparency. Many roads, bridges, and public infrastructure projects are either left incomplete or built using substandard materials due to the heavy bribery system.

Locals and opposition parties have raised serious concerns over the lack of accountability in Tripura’s government departments, demanding strict monitoring and legal action against corrupt officials and contractors. However, so far, no concrete steps have been taken by the authorities to address these concerns.

If the government does not act soon, the state’s development projects will continue to face setbacks, and taxpayers' money will be wasted on substandard, unsafe infrastructure.

more news...