BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 19th July 2025: A vital 11-kilometre stretch of the Assam-Agartala national highway connecting Churaibari to Bagbasa in North Tripura has deteriorated into a dangerous thoroughfare causing immense hardship to commuters and raising serious questions about the quality of recent repairs.
This segment of the National Highway considered Tripura’s lifeline has reportedly not undergone full-scale repairs for over three years. While sporadic patchwork has been carried out, locals allege that the use of substandard materials and poor construction practices rendered these repairs short-lived.
“Just two months ago, different agencies undertook repairs at the cost of nearly Rs 1 crore per kilometre. But the road is already full of potholes again,” said a resident of Bagbasa, expressing frustration over the waste of public funds.
The deteriorating road has turned routine travel into an ordeal. “What should be a two-hour journey now takes more than five hours. The bad road condition is not only time-consuming but also increases our vehicle maintenance costs,” said Ramesh Debnath, a truck driver who frequently travels this route.
Local auto-rickshaw (TomTom) drivers echoed similar concerns. “In the rainy season, the potholes fill with water, making it impossible to judge their depth. In the dry season, the dust is unbearable,” said a driver from Churaibari.
Residents also pointed to the unchecked operation of illegal stone crusher units along both sides of the road between Churaibari and Bagbasa, claiming that the heavy movement of trucks loaded with stone chips is accelerating the damage.
With the highway playing a crucial role in connecting Tripura to the rest of the country, locals have demanded immediate and high-quality repairs. “This is not just an inconvenience—it’s a threat to life and livelihood,” said another commuter.
Despite repeated appeals, authorities have yet to take substantial action. The residents and regular road users are now urging state and central agencies to intervene and restore the highway before the situation worsens further.
