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Tripura CM Appeals to Nitin Gadkari for Immediate Restoration of NH-8, NH-208 and NH-108B

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
  • Jul 17, 2026
  • 144

Expressing serious concern over the rapidly deteriorating condition of major National Highways across Tripura, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has urged Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to immediately intervene and expedite restoration work on key road corridors affected by heavy monsoon rains.

In an official communication to the Union Minister, Dr. Saha highlighted that the poor condition of several highways has severely disrupted transportation, increased travel time and posed significant risks to commuters across the state.

The Chief Minister specifically pointed to the alarming condition of National Highway-8 (NH-8), the principal road corridor connecting Churaibari with Agartala, which serves as Tripura's lifeline for passenger and commercial transport. He also raised concerns over National Highway-208 and National Highway-108B, which connect important towns including Kumarghat, Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai and Agartala.

 

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Seeking urgent intervention, Dr. Saha requested the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to direct the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to immediately deploy a senior technical team for an on-ground assessment of the damaged stretches. He stressed that restoration work should be completed on priority so that the roads become fully safe and motorable.

The Chief Minister further appealed for continuous monitoring of all ongoing highway construction and maintenance projects. He urged the Union Minister to instruct the NHIDCL Managing Director to conduct regular review meetings with officials stationed in Tripura to ensure timely completion of pending projects and faster execution of repair works.

Speaking to journalists, Dr. Saha said the state government has repeatedly taken up the issue with the Central Government.

He informed that a letter had already been sent to the concerned Secretary, who subsequently visited the affected highway stretches to inspect the prevailing conditions. Following the inspection, another communication was sent requesting immediate corrective measures.

The Chief Minister recalled that he had earlier discussed the matter with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and had cautioned that road conditions would further deteriorate during the monsoon if preventive repairs were not undertaken in advance.

 

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Dr. Saha also revealed that Chief Secretary Kiran Gitte has been actively coordinating with the concerned Central agencies to expedite restoration work.

Clarifying the administrative responsibility, the Chief Minister said the National Highways are maintained by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways through NHIDCL, and therefore fall outside the direct jurisdiction of the Tripura Government. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the state administration has been consistently pressing the concerned authorities to accelerate repair work while maintaining close monitoring of the situation.

Apart from highway infrastructure, Dr. Saha also reviewed the progress of various Agartala Smart City projects. He acknowledged that continuous rainfall has temporarily slowed construction activities but assured that officials have been instructed to speed up execution without compromising quality standards.

He reiterated that the government is closely supervising every ongoing Smart City project to ensure timely completion despite weather-related challenges.

Why This Story Matters

The condition of NH-8 is critical for Tripura as it serves as the state's primary road link with the rest of India. Any prolonged disruption affects passenger movement, supply chains, emergency services, trade and essential commodities. Timely restoration of NH-8, NH-208 and NH-108B is therefore vital for maintaining connectivity and supporting the state's economy during the monsoon season.

 

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