AGARTALA, Sep 26 (TIWN): The central deprivation term can not be used as reason behind poor roadway condition as BJP led Tripura Govt imposed cess on fuel saying it will be used for road maintenance.

After tax on fuel was hiked, for the second time 2 % cess was imposed on fuel saying after road maintenance with these collected taxes from fuel (through cess) the expenditure will automatically go down as it will speed up the journey and save fuel and also vehicles' lasting capacity will be developed, but on yesterday Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb almost cried telling he has no "rupee" & "paisa" for roadway and also PWD left workless, fundless.

But on July 26, while announcing about 2 % cess hike, Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath said, “There are 3000 buses in Tripura, autos 34,000, E-Rickshaws' number is 8,300. Trucks including small and big are 28,000, cars 10,000, two wheelers above 3 lakhs. Around 4 lakhs of vehicles are running over state's pathetic roads. The roadway's condition is bad leading massive damages to the vehicles. People are suffering. The vehicles are losing their lasting quality. Transport movement is becoming tough. Delivery is getting delayed. Aiming to develop the economy and betterment of every citizens of the state, which will reduce the transport cost and also save time Govt has decided to lavy 2 % cess on fuel. That revenue will develop roadmaps. Once the transport become faster and can save time in delivery automatically it will reduce the transport cost and save the vehicles from damages. That’s why the Govt has decided to bring an ordinance under ‘Tripura Road Development Cess Ordinance 2018’ to impose the 2 % cess on petrol, diesel, natural gas”. 

On yesterday when asked by media on road maintenance issue during CM's press meet at Secretarit, CM said, "Whatever fund I have, I haven't hidden anything from the public and everything is transparent. My fund is public fund. As a result, various schemes as Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojna or similar schemes are being utilized and PWD is now calling for tender for various maintenance works. Recently one tender was given for maintenance and PWD has released 25 crores for that".

CM also said, when NHIDCL gets a project it get huge amount but when PWD takes project Govt gives very less. CM further compared if NHIDCL gets Rs. 53 crores, PWD gets only 10 crores. 

About the Airport road via Bishpukur CM said, "Central wants that State Govt should do that project but on yesterday (during MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari's reviewed meeting on National Highway projects held at Shillong) I told the Centre clearly that State has no fund. Hoping the fund will be given soon".