Agartala, 8th November 2026 : Frustrated over the deplorable condition of National Highway 108B and the persistent dust pollution, residents of Barbil area in Khowai staged a road blockade on Saturday, bringing traffic along the Kamalpur-Agartala highway via Khowai to a standstill.
The protesters alleged that the highway, which has remained in a damaged condition for several months, has turned into a virtual death trap for commuters and a major source of hardship for people living along the road.
According to residents, heavy freight vehicles continue to ply the damaged stretch daily, generating thick clouds of dust that enter nearby houses, shops and eateries. They claimed that the pollution has adversely affected public health, with children and elderly people increasingly suffering from various illnesses.
“We have been suffering for the last five to six months. Dust has made it almost impossible to live in our own homes. Even food gets covered with dust, making it difficult to eat. Heavy vehicles keep passing throughout the day, but nobody takes steps to control the pollution by sprinkling water,” a local resident said.
Shopkeepers and restaurant owners also expressed concern over declining business, claiming that customers are reluctant to visit eateries because of the dusty surroundings. They said goods, food items and shop interiors become covered with dust shortly after cleaning.
The residents further alleged that instead of properly repairing the highway with asphalt, authorities repeatedly dump mixtures of stone chips, cement dust and sand on the road. Such temporary measures, they claimed, fail to withstand traffic and eventually deteriorate, creating more dust.
Demanding immediate permanent repair of the highway, the protesters said that at least regular water sprinkling should be ensured until proper blacktopping is completed.
The blockade left numerous heavy freight vehicles and passenger vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway, causing considerable inconvenience to commuters.
The residents maintained that they were compelled to resort to the blockade after repeated suffering and alleged inaction over the deteriorating road condition.
