By TC News Desk
Agartala, 6th September 2025: The much-hyped Smart City project, instead of bringing relief, has become a daily ordeal for the residents and commuters of Agartala. Road and drain construction works are continuing from morning till evening across the city, pushing normal life to the brink of collapse.
Citizens allege that the authorities have failed to plan properly. Instead of carrying out construction at night, when traffic is minimal, major stretches are being dug up during the busiest hours of the day. The result: traffic snarls, dust-filled air, and endless frustration.
“Even stepping into the market has become a struggle. With half the road dug up and drain soil piled high on the other side, vehicles can hardly pass. In many areas, the roads have shrunk into narrow lanes,” complained a local trader, adding that business has dropped drastically as customers avoid the dusty, congested shopping areas.
Residents further pointed out that soil dug out for drains is rarely removed in time, leaving behind filth and choking the city’s arteries. In several stretches, roads have been cut for utility pipes, creating open drains that often cause small cars to get stuck or accidents to occur. “Jam after jam is becoming unbearable during office hours,” said a daily commuter.
Frustration is mounting among traders as well. “Shops are covered in dirt and dust. Customers simply don’t come. Business has almost stopped,” said one shopkeeper in Battala.
The issue even reached the state secretariat on Monday, where Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha expressed dissatisfaction over the state of affairs. Sources said the Chief Minister questioned the decision-making process, asking: “Where there is no alternative road system, who had the wisdom to dig up roads during peak hours of the day?” He reportedly instructed Smart City authorities to focus on reducing public suffering immediately.
Engineers have also criticized the approach as “unscientific.” Without completing work on one side of a road, dredgers are being moved to the other side, virtually immobilizing the city. Excavations have started simultaneously on multiple roads, worsening the chaos.
Citizens argue that the entire project could have been handled with better timing. “Why the rush? The dry season is ahead. If work was taken up slowly after the puja, there would have been ample time. Instead, we are forced to live in a dust bowl,” said a resident of Banamalipur.
Speculation is even rife among city dwellers about whether there is a hidden agenda behind digging roads during daytime and leaving them unfinished. For now, one thing is certain—Agartala’s Smart City project has turned into “smart suffering.” The pressing question remains: When will the city breathe easy again?
