Khowai, March 8: A newly constructed road at Ghilatali in Kalyanpur subdivision of Tripura’s Khowai district has brought much-needed relief to local villagers, particularly farmers and small traders who depend on smooth transportation to reach nearby markets.
The road, built under the initiative of the local MLA and executed by the Public Works Department (PWD), has improved connectivity in the area, which has long been known as one of the region’s prominent agricultural hubs. With the completion of the bitumen road using a paver machine, farmers can now transport their agricultural produce more easily to surrounding markets.
Ghilatali once had a thriving rural marketplace, often referred to as the “agricultural storehouse” of the region. During the 1960s and 1970s, a vibrant market operated under a large banyan tree that served as its centre. People from both tribal and non-tribal communities gathered there to trade a variety of goods, including crops, cattle, ducks, thatching grass, bamboo and firewood.
The strong participation of tribal communities played a key role in sustaining the market’s vitality, as rural trade in the region traditionally depended on their active involvement.
Over the years, however, the market gradually lost its earlier vibrancy. Although the historic banyan tree still stands today as a reminder of the bustling marketplace, the surrounding area had become muddy and waterlogged during the monsoon season, creating serious difficulties for farmers and traders.
Transporting goods to nearby areas such as Moharcherra, Totabari and Kalyanpur often became challenging due to poor road conditions. Residents had been demanding a proper paved road in the area for many years.
According to local residents, the decline of the traditional market accelerated after the Baghabari massacre on May 20, 2000, which led to a sharp drop in the number of tribal traders visiting the market.
Over time, a new marketplace developed about 700 to 800 metres east of the old banyan tree. Despite this shift, residents continued to press for better road connectivity near the historic market site.
With the completion of the new paved road, villagers have expressed satisfaction and hope the improved infrastructure will help revive local economic activities and ease the movement of agricultural produce.
