Agartala, 17th July 2026 : Concerned over the deteriorating condition of major national highways in Tripura, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha has urged Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to take immediate steps to address the issue and ensure smooth road connectivity across the state.
In a letter to the Union Minister, the Chief Minister highlighted the worsening condition of several key highway stretches, including National Highway-08 from Churaibari in North Tripura to Agartala in West Tripura, as well as NH-208 and NH-108B, which serve as vital links connecting Kumarghat, Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai and Agartala.
Dr. Saha pointed out that the condition of these roads has created serious difficulties for commuters, particularly during the monsoon season when heavy rainfall further affects movement and transportation. He requested the immediate deployment of a senior NHIDCL team to inspect the affected areas and take necessary measures to restore the highways.
The Chief Minister also appealed to the Union Minister to direct the Managing Director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to regularly review repair and construction works with field officials in Tripura and ensure that projects are completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Speaking on the matter, Dr. Saha said the state government has been continuously following up with the concerned authorities to resolve the road-related issues.
“I had earlier discussed the condition of the roads with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and informed him that the problems could resurface during the rainy season. Yesterday, I wrote to the Secretary, who also visited the affected locations, and today I have again taken up the matter through another letter,” he said.
He added that Chief Secretary Kiran Gitte has also communicated with the concerned authorities regarding the deteriorating highway conditions.
“We are regularly pursuing the matter and urging the authorities to take action. These national highways come under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, not the state government. However, we are continuously highlighting the problems faced by the people and ensuring that the issue receives attention,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, discussing the progress of Smart City projects in Agartala, Dr. Saha said he is personally monitoring the ongoing works and has directed officials to complete the projects at the earliest.
He said that rainfall has slowed down certain activities, but necessary instructions have been issued to speed up the work while ensuring proper implementation and quality. The Chief Minister assured that efforts are underway to complete the pending projects without further delay.
