Tripureswari Temple’s Accessibility Failure: Crores Spent, but No Ramp for Persons with Disabilities

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, October 29, 2026

The absence of a proper ramp for persons with disabilities at the Tripureswari Temple, one of Tripura’s most revered religious destinations, has once again raised questions about accessibility, inclusive development and the priorities behind public infrastructure projects.

The issue has gained renewed attention following a Facebook Post highlighting the difficulties faced by a son who brought his elderly mother to the temple after travelling from Kolkata. The visit was reportedly driven by the mother’s long-cherished wish to offer prayers at the famous shrine. However, the family’s religious journey turned into a distressing experience when the elderly woman faced difficulties accessing the temple premises.

The incident has brought into focus a fundamental question: when crores of rupees are spent on the construction and development of a major religious site, why are the needs of elderly devotees and persons with disabilities not given adequate priority?

According to the Facebook Post, the son had returned to Tripura with his mother after spending several years away from the state. He took her to the Tripureswari Temple, hoping to fulfil her long-standing wish. However, the absence of suitable accessibility arrangements reportedly made the visit difficult. The family subsequently visited the Udaipur temple, but the experience raised questions about whether adequate consideration had been given to the needs of elderly and physically challenged devotees during the development of the shrine.

The controversy is not new. Tripurainfo Editor Jayanta Debnath had raised the issue of the missing ramp at the very beginning of the construction of the renovated Tripureswari Temple complex.

When reports emerged that the temple was being constructed without a ramp for persons with disabilities, Debnath brought the matter to the attention of the then Chief Minister, Biplab Kumar Deb. The issue was raised specifically to ensure that persons with disabilities, elderly people and devotees unable to climb stairs could access the temple with dignity and without depending entirely on others.

The then Chief Minister reportedly acknowledged the necessity of a ramp and agreed that such an arrangement was important. However, despite the issue being brought to the highest level of the state government, a proper ramp was ultimately not constructed, leaving the accessibility concern unresolved.

Although a lift was installed at the temple complex, questions have been raised about its practical accessibility for ordinary devotees. According to the concerns expressed by visitors, the lift is primarily used by VIPs, while persons with disabilities and elderly devotees continue to face difficulties.

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