The opposition CPI (M) on Thursday organized a series of protest demonstrations demanding the immediate repair of dilapidated national highways and the speedy completion of ongoing highway construction works across the state.
As part of the protest programme, demonstrations were held at Sadhu Para along National Highway-8 and at Subal Singh Bazar on National Highway-108B. Later in the afternoon, party workers staged a protest outside the office of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) near Shishu Udyan in Agartala and submitted a mass memorandum to the Executive Officer of the agency.
The protesters demanded the immediate repair of damaged national highways, the early completion of ongoing highway projects, improved quality in highway construction, and an end to alleged corruption in road development works. A large number of people participated in the demonstrations.
Addressing the gathering at Subal Singh Bazar, CPI (M) state secretariat member and West Tripura District secretary Ratan Das, state committee member and former minister Pranab Debbarma, and Mohanpur Sub-Divisional secretary Sudip Debnath highlighted the poor condition of the national highways. They urged the authorities to undertake urgent repair work and strongly criticized what they described as a lack of seriousness and prompt action by the concerned agencies.
At the protest held at Sadhu Para in Champaknagar, CPI(M) state committee member and former Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the ADC, Radha Charan Debbarma, along with other leaders, expressed concern over the extremely slow pace of repairs on highways that have become unsafe and difficult for commuters.
The afternoon protest outside the NHIDCL office was addressed by CPI(M) state secretary and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Jitendra Chaudhury and former Minister Manik Dey. The speakers strongly criticized the deteriorating condition of national highways and alleged that roads and other public infrastructure across the state were steadily collapsing due to the government’s failure to ensure timely maintenance and repairs.
A delegation comprising West Tripura District Secretary Ratan Das, Sadar Sub-Divisional secretary Amal Chakraborty, Dukli Sub-Divisional secretary Samar Chakraborty, Jirania Sub-Divisional secretary Subhash De, and Mohanpur Sub-Divisional secretary Sudip Debnath submitted the memorandum to the NHIDCL Executive Officer.
After submitting the memorandum, District Secretary Ratan Das briefed the media on behalf of the delegation, reiterating the party’s demand for immediate intervention to restore the condition of the state’s national highways and improve infrastructure maintenance.