Agartala, August 2, 2025: Nearly a hundred tribal families from Tripura’s Man Chandrapara and Aptapara areas under East Kalabaria Gram Panchayat in Belonia subdivision of South district are reeling under hardship due to the alleged negligence of ONGC authorities, as the condition of a vital local road continues to worsen.
The road stretching from Maichhara Bazar to Aptapara Anganwadi Kendra has reportedly fallen into a severely dilapidated state, making it nearly impassable for bikes, bicycles and even pedestrians let alone vehicles. Locals allege that the heavy vehicles used by ONGC for their operations are responsible for the damage.
“Despite repeated appeals to the ONGC authorities, no proper action was taken. We are forced to suffer silently,” said a resident of Aptapara.
The issue prompted area head Sahadeb Das to intervene. “When I spoke to the ONGC officials, they finally agreed to carry out temporary repairs and began some work,” he said. However, the relief was short-lived.
According to villagers, ONGC began laying bricks selectively, only in areas required for their vehicle movement, rather than fixing the entire stretch of the road. This led to frustration among locals, who then halted the ongoing patchwork in protest.
“The road is used daily by students, farmers, and laborers. In emergencies, it becomes impossible to take pregnant women or patients to the hospital due to its condition,” said another resident, highlighting the urgency of a comprehensive repair.
Sahadeb Das sided with the locals’ demands and expressed dissatisfaction with ONGC’s partial work. “The repairs are not being carried out in a fair manner. I will speak with the community again and take necessary steps. Earlier, we had used a dredger to repair the road, but it deteriorated again due to ONGC’s heavy vehicles, especially during the monsoon,” he noted.
He further informed that the Public Works Department (PWD) has already issued a tender for full renovation. “The entire road will be converted into a pitched road after the monsoon season,” he confirmed.
Until then, the villagers continue to demand immediate and effective action to ensure basic transportation needs are met.
