Agartala, 12th May 2026: Frustrated by years of neglect from authorities, residents of Nathpara village under Ward No. 5 of Sonaimuri Gram Panchayat in Kumarghat have taken road repairs into their own hands by collecting donations among themselves.
The 600-meter stretch of road, which connects the village to nearby schools and essential services, has remained in a severely damaged condition for nearly 15 years, according to locals. The poor state of the road has made daily commuting extremely difficult for around 50 families living in the area.
Residents say the road is the only access route for schoolchildren attending two nearby schools and is also frequently used to transport patients to hospitals. However, due to its deteriorated condition, even ambulances are unable to pass through.
“Students travel this road every day, and during emergencies, patients are carried through it. But unfortunately, no ambulance can actually reach here,” said local resident Biswajit Debnath. He added that despite repeated appeals to local representatives and government departments, no effective action was taken over the years.
With no improvement in sight, villagers collectively decided to fund the repair work themselves. Many contributed from their personal savings, while some even donated money received as social welfare assistance.
The initiative highlights growing frustration among rural communities over unmet infrastructure demands. Locals allege that elected representatives have repeatedly visited the area during election seasons but failed to ensure basic development afterward.
While residents continue their self-funded repair work, the incident has raised broader questions about rural infrastructure maintenance and governance in the region.
