BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 3rd July 2024: Despite promises of a new national highway from Khowai to Kalyanpur via Teliamura, progress on the project has remained stagnant. Large potholes now mar sections of the existing road, including areas in Kalyanpur, with the pitch of the road significantly degraded. The deteriorating condition of the road has brought back memories of the many old, neglected roads in the region. Unfortunately, the local works department says it is powerless to address the situation.
“Since the declaration of National Highway NH 208, this road is no longer under Public Works Department,” explained Kalyanpur PWD SDO Suman Das. “It is now the responsibility of the central construction corporation, which also handles road maintenance and reconstruction.”
The contract for the highway’s construction and maintenance rests with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). However, according to Das, NHIDCL has not taken any significant steps to repair the road. This inaction has left local residents frustrated with the road’s poor condition.
“There has been no official communication between the central construction company and the State Works Department. They operate independently,” Das noted. He did mention that NHIDCL recently completed some work in the Amar Colony area, but emphasized the urgent need for repairs across Kalyanpur.
Residents are particularly aggrieved, pointing out that the national highway is supposed to extend from Khowai to Kalyanpur via Teliamura to Amarpur and Udaipur. “We need this construction to begin immediately,” one local resident demanded, reflecting the widespread sentiment of the community.
