Kamalpur, July 13: Local residents on Monday staged a road blockade on the Rakhal Tali–Jayanti Bazar road under Kamalpur subdivision, protesting the prolonged poor condition of the road. The agitation was organised to demand the immediate repair of the stretch from Prabhat Chowmuhani to Purba Daluchhara Lal Debendra Para.
The blockade disrupted traffic for some time, with vehicles reportedly lining up on both sides of the road. Residents said the road has remained in a deplorable condition for the past three to four years. During the monsoon, waterlogging and mud make the stretch extremely difficult to use.
School and college students, working people, elderly residents and other commuters are among those facing daily hardship due to the condition of the road.
According to local residents, around 120 families depend on the road for their daily movement. The poor condition of the stretch has also made it difficult to transport patients to hospitals during emergencies, as ambulances and other vehicles often struggle to reach the area.
The protesters alleged that the matter had been brought to the attention of the panchayat, block administration and other concerned departments several times over the past three to four years, both verbally and in writing. However, they claimed that no concrete steps had been taken to repair the road despite repeated assurances.
Following information about the blockade, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Salema Block reached the spot and held discussions with the protesters. The official assured residents that necessary steps would be taken to repair the road and begin the work at the earliest.
Following the assurance from the administration, the protesters withdrew the blockade and traffic movement returned to normal.
Residents, however, made it clear that they no longer want assurances alone. They warned that if repair work does not begin soon, they will be forced to launch a larger agitation in the coming days.
