Agartala Smart City Imposes Strict Rules on Road Excavation
Agartala, Nov 2: Amid growing public frustration over uncoordinated road digging and traffic disruptions across the capital, the Agartala Smart City Limited (ASCL) on Tuesday enforced a series of strict directives to streamline excavation work and reduce inconvenience to commuters.
The instructions were finalised at a high-level review meeting chaired by the Chairman of Agartala Smart City Limited and attended by the Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD) along with officials from the power department and other key agencies. Representatives from TSECL, DWS, UDD, the Jal Board and all concerned contractors were also present.
According to officials, the Secretary expressed serious displeasure over the recurring public harassment caused by haphazard excavation linked to Smart City projects. Calling the situation “avoidable and unacceptable,” he rolled out mandatory protocols that all executing agencies must follow with immediate effect.
Excavation Restricted to 50–60 Metre Patches
Under the new rules, random excavation has been completely prohibited. Agencies may now dig only a 50–60 metre stretch at a time, and fresh excavation elsewhere will be permitted only after the previous stretch is fully restored.
To improve public preparedness, a minimum two-day public notice must be issued before initiating work on any new stretch. Additionally, the Traffic Department’s written approval is now compulsory prior to excavation.
Traffic Diversion Plans Must Be Published
In a bid to avoid the traffic chaos seen in recent months, agencies must publish diversion routes and alternative traffic plans in newspapers once excavation is approved.
The Secretary also emphasised strict adherence to safety norms such as barricading, signage and on-ground alerts at work sites. Public awareness measures, including informative boards and route indicators, will be compulsory at all excavation points.
Weekly Monitoring at AMC Level
To ensure accountability, the meeting further decided that the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Commissioner will hold weekly review meetings to verify that all ongoing work complies with the newly issued norms.
Officials said the measures aim to bring uniformity, reduce delays and ensure that Smart City works “move ahead without bringing the city to a halt.”
