Tripura Faces Isolation as National Highways Crumble; CM Assures Repair Work to Begin Soon

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, July 21, 2025

Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha has assured that repair work on critical stretches of the National Highway network in the state will commence soon, following a visit by a central government team. His statement comes amid growing public outrage over the deteriorating condition of highways that have virtually cut Tripura off from the rest of India.

Addressing the media after inspecting various localities in Agartala,

including Gangail Road, Melarmath, Office Lane, Joynagar Pukur, Dashami Ghat Road, and Dashami Ghat, Dr. Saha reviewed ongoing development work and assessed whether residents were facing any hardships due to poor infrastructure.

Currently, Tripura is grappling with a severe connectivity crisis. The key highway stretch between Churaibari and Agartala, particularly through the Longtharai and Atharamura hill ranges, has become nearly impassable due to incessant rainfall induced landslides. Blocked by debris and mudflows, these arterial routes have brought vehicular movement to a near standstill.

Transporters and daily commuters are increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of maintenance and the apparent lack of urgency from concerned agencies. "This is not just about inconvenience; this is about the state being cut off from the rest of the country," said a truck driver stranded near the Atharamura hills.

The situation is further worsened by the crumbling condition of other highway routes, such as the newly constructed Kamalpur–Agartala road via Khowai and roads through the Jampui Hills. Despite being recent projects under national highway expansion schemes, their premature degradation has sparked allegations of substandard construction.

Local residents and travelers claim that many road works executed by outside contractors often ignore basic engineering and safety protocols. A major point of contention is the absence of mandatory signage at construction sites—boards that are supposed to display project timelines, contractor information, and safety warnings are nowhere to be seen.

Moreover, there is growing resentment over the absence of any grievance redressal mechanism. Citizens say they have no platform to report infrastructure failures or seek official updates, deepening the sense of administrative neglect.

The Chief Minister's assurance comes at a critical juncture, with public confidence in highway construction and maintenance at an all-time low. Many are demanding an immediate audit of ongoing and completed road projects, stricter monitoring by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and accountability from contractors.

As Tripura struggles with failing infrastructure and logistical isolation, urgent intervention is essential to restore normalcy, uphold safety standards, and ensure that national highway development in the state meets the quality benchmarks expected across the country.

more news...