A team of CPI (M) during their deputation with secretary of PWD urged immediate expansion and development of National Highway-8 from Agartala to Champaknagar to reduce growing traffic congestion and smooth passage to daily commuters in the existing narrow lane.

A delegation of CPI (M) West Tripura district committee including former Transport Minister Manik Dey, former minister Pabitra Kar and former CEM of ADC, Radhacharan Debbarma on Tuesday met the secretary of PWD, Kiran Gitte and placed their demands for expansion of national highway to reduce traffic congestion in the busiest road.

On Wednesday afternoon addressing a press conference at CPIM) West District office in Agartala, former Minister Manik Dey accompanied by Pabitra Kar and Radhacharan Debbarma said that since 1960-70, about 75 feet land in both side of NH-8 were kept for expansion of the existing highway into a four lane highway.

“When, the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited Tripura in 2005 to inaugurate Palatana Power plant has declared four-lane of national highway from Churaibari to Agartala, “ said Manik Dey and added that but the expansion of highway not constructed and recently the construction only for 2-lane highway to Churaibari to Champaknagar started.

He said that the PWD secretary informed that from Champaknagar to Agartala, the highway would be converted into a four-lane highway, but there is no solution to growing traffic congestion in this stretch of NH.

Dey said that the government is planning to construct the four-lane highway from Champaknagar to Agartala Bypass through a different route, but the existing problem in the present stretch remains the same.

They urged the secretary and submitted their suggestion to resolve the existing daily traffic jam in the narrow stretch of highway from Agartala to Champaknagar and demanded some immediate measures to give relief daily commuters including constriction of a fly-over from Kashipur to CNG station in Khayerpur and widening of present length of highway in this stretch.

Dey added that the PWD secretary assured that he will take their matters to higher officials and will put their suggestion to reduce the growing congestion in the stretch of NH-8 from Agartala to Champaknagar.