Agartala, Feb 3:
Tripura’s road infrastructure took center stage in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as BJP state president and Member of Parliament Rajib Bhattacharjee raised serious concerns over the deteriorating condition of several key national highways across the state. The highways highlighted included NH-8 (Mungiakami–Ambassa), NH-108B, NH-208B, and NH-208A, all of which are crucial for connectivity and economic activity.
Addressing the Upper House, Bhattacharjee underlined the significant progress made in the Northeast under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014. He pointed out that Tripura, which once had just a single national highway, now has eight national highways. Of these, six have been completed, while work on the remaining two is currently underway, marking a major leap in infrastructure development.
However, the MP emphasized that rapid expansion has not been matched by adequate maintenance. He noted that large potholes and damaged stretches have emerged on several highways, causing severe inconvenience to daily commuters. Farmers transporting agricultural produce, ambulance services responding to emergencies, and even pedestrians are facing increasing difficulties due to the poor road conditions.
“This has created great difficulty in communication and mobility across the state,” Bhattacharjee told the House, stressing that the issue directly affects public safety and economic activity.
Urging swift intervention, the BJP leader called upon the concerned ministry to take immediate corrective measures under the PM Gati Shakti initiative. He demanded a comprehensive survey of the affected highways and sought enhanced financial allocation to ensure timely repair, maintenance, and long-term durability of the road network.
Bhattacharjee’s remarks highlighted a dual reality in Tripura’s infrastructure landscape—remarkable progress in highway expansion under central schemes, alongside persistent challenges related to upkeep and safety. The matter is expected to remain a key priority for both the state and central governments in the months ahead.
