Agartala, 14th July 2026: The Subalsingh hill stretch of the National Highway, the only major road connecting Tripura’s Khowai and Dhalai districts with the state capital, has become a symbol of severe infrastructure failure. Muddy, riddled with potholes and left half-complete, the highway has now turned into what commuters describe as a “death trap,” triggering widespread public outrage and a coordinated social media campaign demanding immediate repairs.
Residents of Khowai and Dhalai districts have taken to their personal social media platforms to warn travellers about the dangerous condition of the road while urging the state government to intervene. Joining the online campaign is Tipra Motha Party MLA from Ramchandraghat Assembly constituency, Ranjit Debbarma, who has been consistently raising the issue before the government.
Debbarma, himself a daily commuter on the damaged stretch, is forced to travel through the muddy and hazardous road to reach his constituency and attend to public grievances. Earlier, he had written to Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, seeking urgent intervention to restore the highway and expedite the long-pending construction work. However, despite repeated appeals, the condition of the road remains unchanged.
The prolonged delay in completing the Khowai–Agartala National Highway via Subalsingh has also raised serious questions over project execution. According to allegations, four to five contractors abandoned the project midway and reportedly left the state before completing the work. Although a new contractor has recently taken charge, continuous heavy rainfall has significantly disrupted construction activities.
The deteriorating road condition has doubled travel time between Khowai and Agartala. A journey that previously took around an hour now takes more than two hours. Commuters have also complained that private vehicles are charging arbitrary fares, while several passenger vehicles allegedly begin collecting nearly double the normal fare after around 3:30 p.m., adding to the financial burden on ordinary people.
Expressing frustration over the government’s inaction, Debbarma recently shared a post on his social media account, stating, “Khowai and Agartala have become far apart. From Subalsingh to Belfang, people are facing immense hardship. I have submitted a written representation to the Chief Minister and also strongly raised the matter during the last session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly. Unfortunately, no effective action has been taken so far.”
With little progress despite repeated representations, the MLA has now sought suggestions from the public through social media on possible ways to resolve the crisis. The growing online campaign reflects mounting public anger and frustration over what many describe as prolonged administrative apathy.
All eyes are now on the National Highways Authority and the Tripura government to see whether the combined voice of the people and an elected representative finally prompts concrete action to restore one of the state’s most crucial road links.
