BY TC News Desk
Agartala, August 28, 2023: The residents of Hrishyamukh block area in South Sonaichari staged a road blockade on Monday morning, demanding better quality of work and drainage system for the national highway from Jhorjhori to Jolaibari.
The protesters claimed that the road construction, which started three years ago, was substandard and caused damage to the road and nearby houses. They also alleged that the contractor, Satish Palace Construction from Jharkhand, ignored their repeated requests to build drains on both sides of the road.
The road blockade, which began at 9:30 am, disrupted traffic on both sides of the road and caused inconvenience to the commuters.
The Belonia police and the sub-divisional magistrate’s office intervened and tried to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade, but they refused to budge until their demands were met.
The Jolaibari national highway (NH 108 A) connects Jhorjhori to Jolaibari and is a vital link for the people of the area. However, the road construction has been marred by complaints and controversies since its inception.
The protesters said that the recent rains had worsened the condition of the road and flooded many ponds and houses in the vicinity. They accused the contractor of using inferior materials and violating the norms of road construction.
They demanded that the authorities take action against the contractor and ensure proper supervision and quality control of the project.
