Protest over relocation of a Rs 70 lakh poultry hatchery in South Tripura triggered a seven-hour blockade of the Sabroom–Agartala National Highway, disrupting traffic and forcing administrative intervention to restore normalcy.
A sudden administrative decision to relocate an approved broiler poultry hatchery has sparked widespread unrest in South Tripura, leading to a prolonged protest that brought a key national highway to a complete standstill on Friday.
Residents of West Jalefa and East Jalefa areas under the Satchand Block staged a strong protest against the relocation of a government-approved poultry hatchery project valued at approximately Rs 70 lakh. The project was originally sanctioned for implementation in West Jalefa Panchayat but was reportedly shifted to Rajibnagar under Guachand Mouja without prior consultation with local residents, triggering public anger and resentment.
According to protesters, the poultry hatchery was expected to generate employment opportunities, improve local livelihoods, and strengthen the rural economy of the West Jalefa area. The sudden relocation was perceived as an unjust decision that deprived the local community of promised developmental benefits. Protesters alleged a lack of transparency in the decision-making process and demanded immediate restoration of the project to its originally approved location.
The agitation intensified around 10 AM when demonstrators blocked the Sabroom–Agartala National Highway, one of the most crucial road links in southern Tripura. The blockade continued for nearly seven hours, completely halting vehicular movement in both directions. Long queues of stranded vehicles formed on either side of the highway, causing severe inconvenience to office-goers, emergency travelers, transport operators, and daily commuters.
Several rounds of discussions were held between the protesters and officials from the block and sub-divisional administrations throughout the day. However, initial negotiations failed to yield an immediate solution, leading to the continuation of the blockade and rising tension in the area. The disruption also affected official movement, forcing state minister Ratan Lal Nath to take an alternative route to reach Sabroom.
The situation began to de-escalate only after the arrival of Sabroom Sub-Divisional Magistrate Abhijit Singh Yadav, who personally intervened at the protest site. After extended dialogue and assurances from the administration regarding a review of the relocation decision, the protesters agreed to withdraw the blockade. Traffic movement on the national highway was subsequently restored.
Later in the day, Minister Ratan Lal Nath inaugurated a temporary office of the Satchand Agriculture Department in Sabroom and formally opened a science fair at Sabroom English Medium School. Addressing media queries about the highway blockade, the minister described the incident as unfortunate and emphasized the need to balance development with public convenience.
“Such incidents are extremely unfortunate. Keeping in mind the inconvenience caused to the general public, the matter will be looked into seriously,” the minister said, adding that the administration would examine the issue to prevent similar situations in the future.
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The incident once again highlighted the importance of community consultation and transparent governance in development projects, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
