With the much-awaited Sharod Utsav (Durga Puja) approaching, residents of Agartala are increasingly concerned over the poor condition of roads, drainage systems and street lighting across the city.

A meeting was held at the conference hall of the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Wednesday to review the city’s preparedness ahead of the festival. AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder, along with corporators, the Municipal Commissioner and other officials, attended the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Mayor Dipak Majumder said that the Sharod Utsav is only about one-and-a-half months away and that people from different districts and subdivisions of Tripura visit Agartala during the festive season.

He said the AMC has taken initiatives to address various civic issues so that visitors can enjoy the festivities comfortably without facing difficulties. Funds have been allocated to different wards for necessary repair and improvement works.

The Mayor has instructed corporators to ensure that problems related to roads, drainage and street lighting are resolved within the next month.

The meeting also discussed the AMC’s proposed Sharod Samman programme and the Chief Minister’s Cleanliness-related programme, which are planned to be organised in October or November.

However, questions remain over whether the allocated funds will actually translate into visible improvements on the ground. Residents have alleged that despite similar allocations in previous years, several development and repair works were not properly executed.

This year, the condition of roads in several wards is reportedly particularly poor, while many lanes and bylanes remain without adequate street lighting. Residents claim that after dark, some poorly lit areas become gathering spots for suspected drug users and gambling activities.

Garbage piles can also be seen along roadsides in several parts of the city, while the condition of many drains remains poor. Even moderate rainfall reportedly leads to waterlogging in areas such as Ramnagar and Rabindrapalli, disrupting normal life.

With Durga Puja approaching, citizens are now waiting to see whether the AMC’s latest initiatives will bring tangible improvements to the city’s roads, drainage, sanitation and lighting systems—or whether the same problems will persist during the festive season.