Footpath Eviction Drive in Agartala Sparks Mixed Reactions: Civic Action vs Livelihood Crisis

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 5, 2026

A massive joint operation by the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Traffic Department to free city footpaths from illegal parking and encroachments has triggered sharp reactions across the capital. While many residents have welcomed the move as a necessary step toward restoring order and pedestrian safety, a large section of small vendors and daily earners claim the drive has pushed them into severe financial distress.

The eviction drive, which continued in several phases from morning till late night, targeted illegally parked vehicles, roadside stalls, and structures built on footpaths. AMC officials made it clear that vehicles parked on covered drains or sidewalks would be towed away without warning. The Mayor himself had announced strict action, and the enforcement teams ensured that the promise was carried out.

However, the action has not been free from controversy. Allegations have surfaced that illegal constructions near Ramnagar 4 Roads, reportedly in front of an office linked to the Mayor, remain untouched. Local residents questioned why a ramp built over the footpath at that location has not been removed while small vendors elsewhere were immediately evicted.

Small traders affected by the drive expressed deep anguish. Many stated that their entire families depend on earnings from tiny roadside shops. “Thousands of people run their households through footpath businesses. First stop illegal car parking, then think about us,” one vendor said. Several people demanded that the government provide alternative vending zones before launching such eviction operations.

Residents from Banerjee Para and Joynagar Road No. 6 complained that haphazard parking has made roads almost unusable. Emergency vehicles, including fire engines, face serious difficulties due to cars blocking narrow lanes. Similar grievances were raised from areas like Ramnagar, Shankar Chowmuhani, and Bijoy Kumar Chowmuhani, where regular traffic jams and encroachments have become daily problems.

One local resident narrated the nightmare of sleepless nights due to constant noise and congestion in residential areas. “We cannot sleep till 4:30 in the morning because of vehicle horns and chaos. Dust pollution is making people sick. There is no space even to walk, the resident lamented, urging authorities to take long-term corrective measures.

Public opinion remains divided. Many citizens have praised AMC’s initiative, arguing that footpaths are meant for pedestrians and roads for vehicles. They pointed out that illegal occupation of sidewalks forces people to walk on main roads, leading to accidents and massive traffic jams. Supporters of the drive demanded regular raids, heavy fines, and even arrests of habitual encroachers.

At the same time, social activists and concerned citizens emphasized the need for a humane approach. They argued that licensed vendors and genuinely poor traders should not suffer due to unplanned enforcement. “If the government says there are no jobs and asks people to sell tea for survival, then where will they sit? Eviction without rehabilitation is injustice,” commented a local observer. Demands have grown for proper surveys, designated vending zones, and scientific urban planning.

Experts also highlighted the chronic parking crisis in Agartala. Citizens demanded that private offices, banks, petrol pumps, and commercial establishments be mandated to create their own parking spaces instead of occupying public roads.

The eviction drive is now expected to move toward the GB Bazar area and other congested zones. However, many fear that this may turn out to be only a one-day show. Residents are asking whether the old smart culture of Agartala, where encroachments return within days—will once again reappear.

As the city struggles to balance modernization with livelihood concerns, the debate continues: development and discipline are essential, but so are compassion and planned rehabilitation. The coming days will reveal whether Agartala Municipal Corporation can sustain this momentum and provide a fair solution for all stakeholders.

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