By TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd July 2025: A major protest erupted in the Kamalasagar assembly constituency this morning as residents of Pandavpur Itbhata Chowmuhani blocked the main road connecting Uttam Bhakta Chowmuhani to Fultali Bazar demanding urgent repairs to a severely damaged 4-kilometer stretch.
The blockade was organized using bamboo barricades, brought traffic to a standstill leaving dozens of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road. Protesters, including schoolchildren and local residents, voiced frustration over the deteriorating condition of the road, which they claim has been neglected for years despite repeated complaints to the local panchayat and MLA Antara Sarkar Deb.
“This road turns into a swamp every time it rains. Water reaches up to our knees. Children can’t go to school and ambulances refuse to enter. We’ve waited long enough. No more promises—we want action,” said local resident Ratan Das.
The tipping point came early Wednesday when a young man reportedly slipped and sustained serious injuries while pushing his motorbike through the muddy stretch near the Pandavpur brick kiln. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, further fueling public outrage.
Residents allege that MLA Antara Sarkar Deb, who won the 2023 Assembly election with 19,052 votes, has not visited the area since the polls. “She drove past in a luxury vehicle once, but didn’t stop to see the condition of the road,” said another protester.
According to a recent tender notice, the Public Works Department had floated a ₹6.63 crore project for road improvement in the region, including the Uttam Bhakta–Fultali stretch. However, locals claim no work has commenced on the ground.
The protestors have vowed to continue the blockade until the road is fully repaired. “We are not asking for luxury—just a basic road to walk and drive on,” said a schoolteacher who joined the demonstration.
