By TC News Desk
Agartala, 27th September 2025: The city of Agartala has been under virtual lockdown since the evening of Maha Chaturthi, as thousands of devotees flocked to witness the grand Durga Puja celebrations. With major puja pandals inaugurated on Tritiya and Chaturthi evenings, prominent clubs across the city have opened their elaborately decorated venues to the public.
The enthusiasm among visitors is palpable, but so is the anxiety. The India Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rainfall warning from Maha Shasthi to Dashami, prompting many to begin pandal-hopping early to avoid weather-related disruptions.
From this afternoon, traffic congestion intensified across key intersections including Post Office Chowmuhani, Kaman Chowmuhani, Laxminarayan Bari Road, Jackson Gate, Orient Chowmuhani, Bidurkarta Chowmuhani, Motor Stand, North Gate, and Haradhan Sangha. The situation worsened as crowds surged and roads became nearly impassable.
The influx of two-wheelers and private cars has added to the chaos, leaving pedestrians struggling to navigate the streets. Many visitors took to the roads with their vehicles to view the pujas, resulting in severe inconvenience for others and turning the city into a near-suffocating gridlock.
Concerns have been raised over the city’s traffic management. With a shortage of trained traffic personnel, the responsibility has fallen on newly recruited constables and TSR personnel, many of whom lack experience in handling large crowds. Their presence at key junctions has been largely symbolic, with little impact on controlling the congestion.
The administrative shortcomings have also affected local businesses. Shopkeepers report that many potential customers returned home midway due to the overwhelming crowd, impacting festive sales of clothing and accessories.
Visitors now anticipate that from the evening of Maha Saptami on 29 September, vehicle passes may be required to access puja venues. To avoid the anticipated hassle, many have already begun their pandal visits since Tritiya night.
