Traffic Restrictions on VIP Road Leave Students, Patients and Commuters in Distress, Demand Grows for Safe Crossing Points

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 18, 2026

A growing public concern has emerged over traffic restrictions along Agartala's busy VIP Road, where the absence of designated crossing facilities at two important connecting roads is causing daily hardship for thousands of pedestrians, students, patients and commuters.

Residents and daily road users have alleged that the Traffic Department, instead of deploying adequate personnel to regulate movement and ensure safe crossings, has effectively blocked road crossing at key junctions under the pretext of public safety. As a result, students of several educational institutions, including Sri Krishna Mission School, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Memorial, BEd College, and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Memorial School, are reportedly facing significant difficulties while commuting every day.

The issue centres around two strategically important shortcut roads developed by the authorities to improve urban connectivity and ease public movement. The first road connects Amrakunja and Kunjaban to VIP Road near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Yuva Awas, while the second links the area adjacent to Heritage Park with Gurkhabasti through VIP Road.

While these roads were constructed to reduce travel time and facilitate smoother movement, commuters claim that the lack of legal crossing arrangements where the roads merge with VIP Road has defeated their very purpose.

According to local residents, the restrictions are particularly troublesome for patients travelling to and from Govind Ballabh (GB) Hospital, government employees working in the area, and elderly citizens. Without a designated crossing facility, pedestrians, ambulances, motorcyclists and vehicle owners are often compelled to take long detours to reach destinations that are otherwise only a short distance away.

Commuters say the situation not only wastes valuable time but also leads to unnecessary fuel consumption, adding to transportation costs and traffic congestion in adjoining areas.

"The roads were built for public convenience, but the inability to cross at the connecting points has turned them into a source of frustration. What should have been a time-saving route has become an obstacle," said a local resident.

more news...