As the rainy season begins, the dire state of roads connecting villages in Tripura is being laid bare. The deplorable road conditions are primarily attributed to a lack of repairs and substandard renovation work. Alleged negligence of the local administration and the Panchayats is also held responsible.
Road connectivity in numerous rural areas is now facing significant challenges due to the poor conditions emerging with the onset of the monsoon. Vehicles are reluctant to traverse the hazardous roads, causing disruptions in communication between remote regions and rural markets. As a consequence, the economy of these rural areas in Tripura is facing an uphill battle.
In Purba Chataria, located in the Gomati district, growing resentment among residents is fueled by the deteriorating road conditions. Following recent rainfall, the roads resemble plowed fields, riddled with large potholes filled with rainwater and mud, making transportation difficult for both vehicles and pedestrians. Notably, this village falls within the Assembly Constituency represented by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy. Despite repeated pleas to Panchayat members, local leaders, and other relevant authorities, the appeals have fallen on deaf ears.
A similar lamentable road condition persists along a 7-kilometer stretch between Tuidu and Harung Para in Ampi. Villagers claim that the road is unfit for vehicular movement, impeding locals from accessing Tuidu and Ampi markets. Moreover, the villagers allege that the road maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD) is unsafe even for pedestrians.
Dilip Reang, a resident of Harung Para, expressed disappointment, stating, “The road is uneven, broken, and riddled with potholes. We repeatedly urged the PWD authorities to repair it before the monsoon season, but unfortunately, no action was taken, and now the road is in a deplorable condition.”
Road connectivity in Sadainanada Para, a remote hamlet under Gandachhera in Dhalai district, frequently suffers from disruptions after rainfall. Residents report that the 3-kilometer stretch from Pancharatan road to Sadainanda Para is in a pathetic and deplorable state. Vehicular movement is often halted as the road transforms into a muddy expanse filled with water-filled potholes resembling craters.
“With traffic movement brought to a standstill, it becomes nearly impossible for us to reach the markets. In case of illness, the dire road conditions and lack of available vehicles make it extremely challenging to transport patients to the hospital,” voiced concerned locals.
With limited vehicular movements owing to bad road condition, rural markets are also facing difficulties in ensuring balance between the supply and demand resulting in hardship among the rural people, Dilip Reang of the Harung Para commented.