Severe mismanagement within the Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) has crippled bus services in Kailasahar, sparking widespread anger among daily commuters who are now left without affordable and reliable transportation.
The TRTC office in Kailasahar, established in 1988, stands today as a stark reminder of decades of administrative neglect. In 37 years, the building has not undergone a single renovation. Its walls are visibly deteriorating, dense vegetation engulfs the premises, and the campus resembles an abandoned structure rather than an operational government facility.
Amid such worsening infrastructure, essential public transport services have collapsed completely. For the past twelve days, the Kailasahar–Dharmanagar route has been non-functional. Similarly, the Kailasahar–Kumarghat Station route has remained suspended for seven days. With no government buses available, commuters are being forced to pay double the usual fare—Rs 60 to Rs 70 instead of the standard Rs 30—to travel in private vehicles, adding a financial burden on regular passengers.
A ground-level inspection reveals an even more alarming scenario. Two buses lie motionless near the old petrol pump, while a larger bus has remained unused for nearly four months, gradually deteriorating under thick overgrowth. The bus assigned to the Kailasahar–Kumarghat Station route reportedly has a damaged engine and consumes excessive fuel, making drivers reluctant to operate it due to the risk of repeated breakdowns.
Supervision and accountability appear nonexistent. Office-in-Charge Krishnacharan Debbarma, who had only recently returned from extended leave, is again absent due to medical reasons. Although the engineer has submitted repair documents to Agartala, there is still no definite timeline from the authorities regarding repairs or service restoration.
With passengers bearing hardships, buses deteriorating, and officials remaining silent, public frustration is growing. Many are now asking whether TRTC in Tripura is being allowed to decline beyond repair.
Residents are urging immediate government intervention and swift restoration of bus services before the situation deteriorates further.
