Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) will launch a city-wide drive from February 3 to remove unauthorised vending and illegal parking, aiming to reduce traffic congestion, improve pedestrian safety, and strengthen urban infrastructure under the Smart City Mission.
The Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) is set to launch a comprehensive city-wide anti-encroachment drive from February 3 aimed at removing unauthorised vending, illegal parking, and encroachments on footpaths and roads. The initiative is expected to ease traffic congestion and significantly improve pedestrian safety and overall urban mobility across the Tripura capital.
Mayor Dipak Majumder announced the decision on Saturday, stating that despite repeated enforcement efforts by a dedicated task force, illegal occupation of public spaces by traders and vendors continues to remain a major civic challenge. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Manik Saha, the AMC has now decided to implement a coordinated and stricter operation to reclaim encroached public areas throughout the city.
According to Majumder, a high-level coordination meeting was recently held involving key departments functioning under the Smart City Mission. The meeting included officials from the AMC, police administration, and traffic authorities, with a focus on streamlining civic governance, traffic regulation, and urban planning. One of the key outcomes of the meeting was a consensus to remove all unauthorised structures, particularly in densely populated and commercially congested zones of Agartala.
The mayor highlighted that areas such as markets, busy intersections, footpaths, and arterial roads would be prioritised during the drive. He made specific reference to the Howrah market area, located along the river embankment, which has seen rapid and unplanned expansion over the years. Several unauthorised businesses have been operating in the area, contributing to congestion and environmental concerns.
Majumder said traders operating illegally in the Howrah market have been formally notified that from February 7, eviction of unauthorised vendors will begin. He clarified that vending activities will be permitted only in officially notified vending zones approved by the civic body. Moreover, vendor structures must strictly adhere to design and safety specifications laid down by the AMC.
Emphasising regulatory compliance, the mayor categorically stated that permanent structures would not be allowed in vending areas under any circumstances. Temporary and standardised vending units would be permitted only in designated zones to ensure pedestrian access, traffic flow, and urban aesthetics are maintained.
On traffic management, Majumder said routine enforcement drives would be adjusted to minimise inconvenience to commuters. Enforcement actions on major roads would be limited during peak traffic hours, with increased reliance on CCTV surveillance to monitor violations. However, action against illegal parking will continue unabated.
The mayor warned that vehicles parked without authorisation, especially those occupying covered drains, footpaths, or non-designated parking spaces, would be towed away immediately. Traffic authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce parking regulations as part of the larger urban decongestion strategy.
Majumder also provided an update on ongoing infrastructure projects in the city. He said riverfront development works have been completed, while several road construction and improvement projects are progressing steadily. A few model roads under the Smart City Mission are expected to be completed within the next month, further enhancing urban connectivity.
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On civic amenities, the mayor stated that drainage work across Agartala has been completed. Out of the total 1.44 lakh households in the city, approximately 17,000 are yet to be connected to the water supply network. He assured that the remaining households would be brought under the network in the coming months.
With the completion of major infrastructure projects under the Smart City Mission, Majumder expressed confidence that Agartala would witness visible improvements in urban infrastructure, traffic management, and quality of life over the next year. The upcoming anti-encroachment drive, he said, is a crucial step toward making the city cleaner, safer, and more organised.
