Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has directed the Public Works Department (PWD) and other concerned agencies to complete ongoing road maintenance works across the state by September 30, ahead of the Durga Puja festivities.
Addressing a press conference at Civil secretariat on Monday afternoon to highlight the details of ongoing construction repair works, PWD Secretary Kiran Gitte said that the Chief Minister chaired a high-level review meeting at the War Room of TIFT, Agartala, on August 8 to assess the progress of road maintenance works across Tripura. Senior officials of the PWD, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and other concerned departments attended the meeting.
He said that the meeting reviewed measures to expedite ongoing maintenance works, ensure quality, and address connectivity-related issues, particularly in view of the Monsoon season. NHIDCL and PWD officials presented district-wise progress reports and action plans for pre-Puja road maintenance.
The Chief Minister directed officials to complete the maintenance works before Durga Puja while maintaining strict quality standards for public convenience.
He said that a follow-up review meeting was subsequently held by the PWD Secretary on August 10 at the Secretariat Conference Hall to assess the latest status of road maintenance works across the state.
Gitte said that the maintenance work has been targeted for completion on 1,006 roads covering 1,622 km under PWD (Roads & Buildings) by September 30. Under PWD (PMGSY), maintenance of 119 roads covering 665 km has also been targeted for completion by the same deadline. Meanwhile, PWD (National Highways) has set a target to complete maintenance of 32 roads covering 377 km.
Under NHIDCL, maintenance work is currently underway on the 16-km Champaknagar–Nalgaria Railway Bridge stretch of NH-08, the 38-km Khowai–Agartala stretch of NH-108B, the 80.2-km Khowai–Kailashahar stretch of NH-208, and the 105.90-km Churaibari–Agartala stretch of NH-08.
The stretch from Nalgaria Railway Bridge to ISBT Chandrapur will be taken up by PWD (R&B), said secretary of PWD.
The PWD secretary also said that the road maintenance works have been hampered by early rainfall since March 2026, which has led to the development of potholes on roads across the state. However, the department stated that sufficient funds are available for carrying out the maintenance works.
The PWD Secretary has directed officials to give special attention to roads connecting district and sub-divisional headquarters, bus stands, railway stations, hospitals and major Durga Puja pandals.
Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers have also been instructed to conduct frequent inspections of the ongoing maintenance works.
The state government reiterated its commitment to improving road infrastructure and ensuring smooth connectivity for the people of Tripura, said Gitte.