Agartala Smart City Works Trigger Public Hardship, Urban Development Department Announces Strict New Regulations

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, December 4, 2025

In an effort to ease public inconvenience caused by ongoing Smart City and urban infrastructure works, the Urban Development Department of the Tripura Government has announced several new decisions aimed at better coordination, timely completion, and improved road management across Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas.

At a press conference held at the State Secretariat on Wednesday, Urban Development Secretary Abhishek Singh, IAS revealed that development projects worth nearly Rs.900 crore are currently underway across Agartala. These include Smart City works and projects implemented by the Agartala Municipal Corporation, Power Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and other agencies. The government plans to complete these major works before the monsoon season.

The Secretary acknowledged that while developmental work is essential for improving urban services, citizens often face temporary difficulties. To minimise these hardships, several immediate measures have been taken. Singh said all ongoing works are scheduled to be completed within the next 7 to 15 days. No agency will be allowed to dig more than 50 to 100 meters of road at a time. Only after the completion of one stretch can the next be taken up. Traffic authorities will ensure proper movement of vehicles, and all departments must inform the Traffic Department before beginning any work.

However, the press conference did not provide any clear answer regarding the absence of mandatory signboards at project sites or whether such signboards would be made compulsory in the coming days. No specific mechanism was also announced for citizens to report complaints regarding ongoing works.

Agartala Municipal Corporation CEO Dilip Kumar Chakma presented detailed progress on various Smart City projects, while PWD Chief Engineer Rajib Majumder stated that the department is committed to enhancing the state’s road connectivity. To improve drainage in AMC areas, 13.10 km of drainage upgrade work has been initiated, with 2.20 km currently in progress. Tenders have already been floated for the remaining 10.90 km. Majumder assured that public movement would not be obstructed during construction.

TSECL Director (Technical) Subir Sen informed that 153 km of underground cabling work in AMC limits was completed in June this year, with more work planned. Traffic SP Kishore Debbarma added that the department is working continuously to ensure smooth traffic flow during the implementation of public welfare projects.

A major concern raised was the frequent damage caused by one department to pipelines of other departments

such as water lines and PNG gas pipelinesduring excavation. This has resulted in contamination of drinking water and even fire hazards in gas lines. Singh admitted the lack of coordination and assured strict inter-departmental monitoring going forward.

However, Urban Development Authorities apologised to the citizens for the ongoing inconvenience, assuring that once the temporary disruptions are over, Agartala will benefit from modern, durable, and safer Smart City infrastructure.

Meanwhile, several complaints have emerged regarding the poor quality of work on the Airport Road, where road surfaces are already deteriorating and footpath and drainage works reportedly do not match prescribed specifications.

more news...