Former Tripura Chief Minister and MP Biplab Kumar Deb met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on July 23 and sought immediate intervention to improve the condition of national highways in the state while expediting several pending infrastructure projects.
During the meeting, Deb highlighted the poor condition of key road corridors, including the Agartala–Khowai–Kailashahar route and the Ranir Bazar–Hatikatar (Barmura) section of NH-8, which he said have become severely damaged and full of potholes. He urged the Centre to undertake temporary repairs on a war footing by removing muddy soil and laying Water Bound Macadam (WBM) or stone metalling to restore smooth traffic movement.
The MP also raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of NH-208 connecting Kumarghat, Kailashahar and Khowai, NH-108B linking Agartala and Khowai, and the Ranir Bazar–Kumarghat–Churaibari stretch of NH-8. He said the poor state of these highways was causing significant hardship for commuters, traders and transport operators.
Deb further expressed concern over the slow progress of 13 major projects being executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in Tripura. He requested the Union Minister to ensure regular monitoring of the works and issue necessary directions for their timely completion.
The discussions also covered three proposed ropeway projects intended to strengthen tourism in the state. These include the Maharani–Chabimura, Udaipur Railway Station–Tripurasundari Temple (Matabari), and Tripurasundari Temple–Chabimura routes. Officials of the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) informed the meeting that tenders have been floated for preparing fresh Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the projects.
Responding to the issues raised, Gadkari assured Deb that the Centre would give serious consideration to the state’s road infrastructure concerns and directed the concerned authorities to take prompt and necessary action.
