KADAMTALA: Members of the BMS labour union, along with auto drivers, e-rickshaw drivers, vehicle owners, and residents, staged a road blockade from 9 am on Thursday at the Challishdron Road junction near Kadamtala auto stand, protesting the long-deteriorating condition of key roads in North Tripura’s Kadamtala block.
Protesters alleged that nearly 90 percent of the Kadamtala–Ranibari road, the Kadamtala Bazar–Challishdron road via Tarakpur–Sarasapur, and the main Kadamtala–Dharmanagar road have turned into large potholes, leading to frequent accidents and severe commuter hardship due to prolonged inaction by the concerned department.
Demonstrators said the blockade would not be withdrawn until repair work begins immediately, adding that their protest was not meant to inconvenience the public but stemmed from the daily suffering faced by thousands who use these roads. They alleged that tenders for repairing two key roads had been finalised long ago, but work has not started due to departmental delays, affecting drivers and passengers who depend on the roads for their livelihood.
The prolonged blockade caused significant disruption for school students, government employees, and commuters, though schoolgoing children were exempted on humanitarian grounds. Heavy traffic congestion was reported on both sides of the road throughout the protest.
Kadamtala Police Station personnel were present at the site, though protesters alleged that no official from the concerned department had arrived to address their grievances as of the time of reporting.