Decades-Old Road Woes Spark Protest in Teliamura
Teliamura, Oct 8: Frustrated after years of unfulfilled promises, residents of Rambabu Para under North Krishnapur Gram Panchayat, Teliamura, staged a road blockade today, demanding immediate construction and improvement of a decades-old rural road.
The protest brought traffic to a standstill on the busy Ghilatali–Teliamura route for over two hours. The blockade was lifted only after senior administrative officials intervened and assured the villagers of prompt action.
According to local sources, the residents have been struggling with poor road conditions for nearly four decades.
Despite repeated appeals to the authorities, including the Panchayat, Block Development Office, and Sub-Divisional Administration, their pleas remained unheeded.
The villagers alleged that even after government funds were sanctioned for the road’s upgradation, the project was inexplicably halted.
They further claimed that the decision to stop the work was taken under the influence of vested interests, with the Block Development Officer (BDO) allegedly canceling the sanctioned allocation.
“We have been running from one office to another for years — from the Panchayat to the SDO and the BDO — but no one paid any attention. Finally, we had no choice but to come out on the road,” said one of the protesters.
As the blockade began around 9:30 a.m., hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the Ghilatali–Teliamura road, causing severe inconvenience to commuters, office-goers, and students.
The protest soon drew the attention of local authorities, who rushed to the scene to restore order.
The agitated villagers also voiced their dissatisfaction with the local MLA and state minister Bikas Debbarma, accusing him of failing to take initiative in resolving the long-pending issue.
“Even our elected representative has remained silent while we suffer. We feel completely neglected,” a villager remarked.
Administrative officials from both the sub-divisional and block offices reached the site after more than two hours of unrest.
Following a detailed discussion with the protesters, they assured that the matter would be looked into with urgency and that necessary steps would be taken to resume the road construction work.
On the basis of this assurance, the blockade was peacefully withdrawn.
However, the residents have warned that their patience is running out.
“If the authorities fail to act this time, we will intensify our agitation and organize a larger protest,” they declared in unison.
“The incident highlights the growing discontent among rural populations over administrative apathy and delayed implementation of infrastructure projects, particularly those that directly affect everyday life and connectivity in remote areas,” local people pointed out.
