Agartala, January 12, 2026: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Monday announced that he would raise the issue of recurring traffic congestion at Churaibari, located on the Assam-Tripura border, with his Assam counterpart to seek a long-term solution.

Addressing reporters after concluding his tour of North Tripura district, Dr. Saha said he personally inspected the Churaibari check post following repeated complaints from locals. He noted that vehicle checks on the Assam side were being carried out in a cramped space, often forcing long queues of trucks and cars to remain stuck for hours. He directed officials to take firm measures after listening to grievances from the public.

The chief minister also highlighted environmental concerns in the area. He said a stone crushing unit, which locals alleged was causing heavy pollution, was found closed during his visit. Such units, he reminded, are required to operate at a prescribed distance from national highways. When asked about clearance, the operators claimed they had applied for environmental approval. Dr. Saha stressed that poor monitoring had worsened the situation and insisted that dust suppression and other safeguards must be enforced.

He further pointed out that stones transported for crushing were often carried in overloaded vehicles. While fines were being levied, he said the penalties were too small to deter violations, calling for stricter reforms to curb the practice.

During the trip, Dr. Saha also inspected the Indian Oil depot, where he was briefed about an alleged extortion racket targeting drivers. He instructed officials not to tolerate such activities and asked Indian Oil authorities to report any future incidents directly to him.

Although he had planned to visit the Food Corporation of India godown, the chief minister said time constraints prevented him from doing so.