Agartala, 8th June 2026: Hundreds of commuters faced inconvenience on Monday after residents of South Maheshpur blocked the Sonamura–Belonia bypass road, demanding immediate repair of a long-neglected rural road in their locality.
The blockade began around 8:30 a.m. at Choumuhani, located on the northern side of the Kakri River bridge in South Maheshpur under Kathalia Block of Sonamura subdivision. The protest disrupted the movement of long-distance passenger buses and other vehicles travelling between Sonamura and Belonia, leading to traffic congestion on the busy route.
Jatrapura Police Station staff reached the spot and attempted to persuade the protesters to withdraw the blockade. However, the agitating residents refused, insisting that the protest would continue until the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Kathalia Block arrived and addressed their concerns. At around 10:00 a.m., the blockade was still underway.
According to local residents, the road in Ward No. 6 of South Maheshpur Gram Panchayat, which serves nearly 25 to 30 families, has remained in a severely damaged condition for several months. They alleged that while small and medium-sized vehicles once used the route regularly, its present condition makes it difficult even for bicycles to pass. During rainfall, the road reportedly turns into a muddy, waterlogged stretch, cutting off easy access for villagers.
Residents expressed anger over what they described as years of unfulfilled promises made by public representatives and authorities. They claimed that despite repeatedly approaching the Gram Panchayat Pradhan, Panchayat Samiti members and block officials, no effective steps have been taken to repair the road.
Sneha Begum, a local woman leader associated with the ruling party, said villagers had been forced to launch the agitation after receiving only assurances and no action. She noted that the road is barely 300 metres long, yet authorities have failed to undertake even minor repair work. The protesters warned that the blockade would continue until a concrete commitment is made by the administration.
