BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 18th June 2025: Residents of the Kulai Harinmara area under the Ambassa subdivision blocked the vital Ambassa-Kamalpur road for nearly four hours today protesting the alleged substandard and incomplete construction of a long-awaited road project.
The protest began around 10 am at Kulai Bazar, where demonstrators halted traffic to demand accountability from the Public Works Department (PWD). According to locals, a tender for reconstructing the severely damaged road was floated two years ago, yet the work remains largely incomplete and what has been completed is reportedly of poor quality.
“The road has been in a dilapidated state for years. Despite repeated complaints to the authorities, no substantial progress has been made. We have been forced to walk through ditches. Now they’re blaming the rains, but the problem is corruption,” said Ananta Reang, a local resident.
Allegations surfaced during the protest that the contractor, who hails from Ambassa, has been working at a sluggish pace. Protesters accused PWD engineers of colluding with the contractor and accepting bribes ranging between Rs 5 to Rs 10 lakh from local political leaders.
The blockade prompted immediate response from Ambassa police and PWD officials, who arrived at the scene but were met with sharp criticism from the protestors. The situation remained tense until Sub-Divisional Magistrate (DCM) Pankaj Datta arrived and provided a written assurance that the matter would be addressed promptly.
Following Datta’s intervention, the blockade was lifted around 2 pm. However, residents have warned of intensified agitation if their demands are not met.
“We want transparency, two years and not even a proper stretch of road. Someone has to answer for that,” said a protester who did not wish to be named.
