BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 27th August 2025 : Residents of Dolucherra village in Ward No. 4 under Bhagaban Nagar Gram Panchayat, Gournagar Block have once again submitted a deputation to the sub-divisional administration demanding urgent repairs to their only access road, which has been in a dangerously dilapidated state for months.
This afternoon, villagers met Deputy Magistrate Mati Ranjan Debbarma at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office in Kailashahar reiterating their plea for road restoration. The brick-paved road, which serves as the sole route in and out of the village, has deteriorated to the point of being nearly impassable particularly at the entrance, where erosion from Dolucherra stream has washed away the soil beneath.
With around 20 families residing in Dolucherra, villagers say they’ve repeatedly informed local panchayat authorities, but no substantial action has been taken. Last year, residents pooled funds to install a temporary bamboo barrier and fill the road with soil. However, recent monsoon rains destroyed the makeshift structure, leaving the road submerged and unusable.
Following renewed appeals, the panchayat reportedly placed a few bamboo poles but later claimed they lacked the capacity to carry out repairs. Frustrated, villagers staged a blockade on the Kailashahar-Dharmanagar National Highway a month ago, prompting Deputy Magistrate Debbarma to intervene. He summoned the panchayat Pradhan and secretary to the protest site and instructed them to begin immediate repairs.
The panchayat secretary assured villagers that temporary measures would be taken using funds from the Panchayat Development Fund (PDF), with a permanent guard wall and paved road to follow once additional funding was secured. Based on this assurance, villagers withdrew their highway blockade.
Despite the promise, no work has been initiated. On Wednesday, villagers returned to the SDM’s office, expressing outrage over the continued inaction. With no fresh assurances from the administration, they warned of another highway blockade in the near future.
Allegations of financial mismanagement have further fueled tensions. Villagers claim the panchayat withdrew Rs 20,000 from the PDF but spent only Rs 1,000 on bamboo, with the rest allegedly misappropriated. The road’s current condition poses serious risks, residents must carry the sick on their shoulders due to the lack of vehicular access.
Locals have issued a stern warning: if the road is not repaired immediately, they will launch a larger agitation.
