AGARTALA, April 2 (TIWN): CPI-M rule over last two decades converted Agartala indeed a ‘SMART (?) city’ as Manik Sarkar’s illiterate Ministers and bureaucrats cemented all drains in Agartala, which not only clogged drainage systems but flood city after every splash. Tripura’s highflying Transport Minister Manik Dey ( a former bus conductor) claims a lot about upcoming hi-tech projects for Tripura as Airport Expansion, SMART City planning, Roadway developments, Transport Minister was spotted to pass Agartala City’s water-logged areas with hardships after the rain on Friday. Manik Dey, on Friday was passing through the road from Ganaraj Chowmuhani towards Jail road, but his vehicle had to struggle through the flooded road due to water logging. After every rain, roads turns into drains as Agartala’s sewage system failed completely under the corrupt PWD and AMC (Agartala Municipal Corporation). Agartala’s poor sewage systems, clogged drains are a far cry from so called ‘SMART City’. Agartala’s poor plight shows that irrespective of hundreds of crores being pumped by Central Govt, ADB, other financial institutions for modernizing infrastructures, however Agartala cannot turn ‘SMART’ with the present bunch of dumb city planners, Ministers and officials.

Being  a second in command in CPI-M Ministry in Tripura, Manik Dey is holding portfolios of four departments : 1.Power, 2.Urban Development, 3.Rural Development (Panchayat) 4.Transport.

A month back Manik Dey was beaten with a chair in State CPM HQ at  Melarmath by his alleged  'business partner' Samir Debnath for involvement into underground business, which most likely turned all the Tripura Govt depeartments into deplorable condition.

But it’s to be mentioned here that from Urban Development to Transport or Power departments,  Minister Manik Dey's performance is abysmal everywhere.

Being a Power Minister., Dey has burdened the state with about Rs. 100/- crores of debts caused by TSECL non-payment to power plants, also Manik Dey failed to develop effective cituywide trasport systems. Still common people are victims of autorickshaw drivers tortures daily.

Agartala is regularly suffering from multiple problems and due to apathy of the Govt. as well as AMC.

As a result the lifestyle of the people are yet to witness to a minimum city standard.

TIWN covered the ironical moment where Minister’s vehicle hit by water logging even though same Minister loud mouths about making Agartala a 'SMART' City.

However, SMART City is a far way plan and the clamors about SMART City is nothing but a drama, as DM Ramteke also mentioned on Friday directly to the media, that the SMART City plans which are held presently will not turn the Agartala city into Singapore, but in reality it will take atleast 20-30 years to change the city fully.

Presently AMC is dealing with Traffic movement and road-side hawkers, said DM on Friday during the discussion panel where issues on Smart city proposal were discussed at Muktadhara auditorium.