Agartala, 11th June 2026: Residents of Dhanchandra Para under Shibpur ADC Village in the Hrishyamukh assembly constituency have expressed deep frustration over the absence of a bridge on the only road connecting their locality, a problem that has persisted for years despite repeated appeals to authorities.
Around 60 families, predominantly from tribal communities, reside in the village. The lack of a proper bridge over a stream has severely affected their daily lives, making it difficult to access markets, schools, rubber plantations, and agricultural fields. To cope with the situation, villagers have constructed temporary bamboo and timber bridges using materials collected from nearby forests.
At another stream crossing, where neither a bridge nor a culvert exists, residents have resorted to laying broken electric poles across the waterway. Villagers say the arrangement is highly dangerous, particularly during the monsoon season when students often suffer injuries while crossing. The transportation of agricultural produce also becomes a major challenge during heavy rains.
Local residents informed, written representations have been submitted to several authorities, including MDC Debajit Tripura of the 27 East Muhuripur-Bhuratali constituency, the Rishyamukh Mandal President, the local CPIM MLA, and the Hrishyamukh Block Development Officer (BDO). Although political leaders, ministers, MDCs, and other officials have visited the site and assured residents of action, no concrete steps have been taken.
Villagers stated that after being informed of the issue, block officials conducted a geo-tracking survey of the location. However, they were reportedly told that the construction of a bridge was beyond the financial capacity of the block administration and would require intervention from the sub-divisional authorities.
Expressing disappointment over what they described as decades of neglect under successive administrations, the residents pointed out that the area has witnessed 25 years of CPIM rule, eight years of BJP governance, and over six years of Tipra Motha administration in the ADC without resolution of the problem.
The aggrieved villagers have now warned that if a bridge or culvert is not constructed immediately to make the road passable, they will be compelled to launch a road blockade movement in protest.
