TNGCL Gas Supply Suspended in Gorkhabasti, Lichubagan Areas Again After Pipeline Damage Near Sri Krishna Mission School
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 10, 2026
Piped natural gas supply was reportedly disrupted once again in parts of Agartala on Thursday morning following damage to an underground TNGCL pipeline near Sri Krishna Mission School on Airport Road, triggering fresh concerns over the manner in which excavation and infrastructure works are being carried out under the Smart City project.
According to local sources, the incident occurred during excavation work near the school and the Airport Road stretch. The gas supply had to be suspended as a precautionary measure after the underground gas pipeline was reportedly damaged. Sri Krishna Mission School is located at Bholananda Palli on Airport Road, Agartala.
It is alleged that the pipeline was cut or damaged by machinery deployed by a contractor engaged in Smart City-related work. Residents and local observers have questioned whether adequate precautions were taken before excavation was undertaken in an area containing underground utility lines.
The incident has also raised questions over coordination between the agencies responsible for the excavation work and utility providers. According to allegations emerging after the incident, there was no engineering personnel from the Smart City authorities or TNGCL present at the work site when the excavation was being carried out. The absence of technical supervision raises serious concerns about compliance with basic safety and utility-protection procedures.
The latest disruption has once again brought the recurring problem of accidental damage to underground utility networks in Agartala into focus. TNGCL has previously faced disruptions caused by excavation and drainage-related works in different parts of the city. Reports have pointed to damage to gas pipelines during the use of heavy machinery for Smart City drainage and road works, with affected locations including Banamalipur, Krishnanaga, Ramnagar, Jagatpur, Motor Stand, the Women's College area and stretches around Airport Road.
The repeated incidents have led to allegations of inadequate mapping of underground utilities and poor coordination among agencies before excavation begins. Heavy machinery such as JCBs and dredging equipment can pose a significant risk to buried gas pipelines, electricity cables, water lines, internet cables and other essential infrastructure if their exact locations are not identified before work starts.
The issue is particularly serious in a densely populated city such as Agartala, where several essential services run underground or alongside roads. An accidental gas-pipeline rupture can not only interrupt domestic and commercial PNG supplies but can also create potential safety hazards if gas escapes into the surrounding area.
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