New road brings relief to farmers, small traders in Tripura village

Kalyanpur, Mar 8: A new road constructed under the initiative of local MLA has brought relief to villagers including farmers and small traders at Ghilatali, a prominent agricultural hub in Kalyanpur of Tripura’s Khowai district.

The newly built road has brought relief to farmers and small traders, enabling them to transport their goods to nearby markets without facing the earlier difficulties.

Over time, many once-thriving rural marketplaces lose their vibrancy due to various reasons. Such was the story of Ghilatali, long known as the region’s “agricultural storehouse.”

Several decades ago, during the 1960s and 1970s, the bustling Ghilatali market used to gather centering a large banyan tree. The market attracted people from both tribal and non-tribal communities who came to sell a variety of agricultural products along with cattle, ducks, thatching grass, firewood and other rural commodities.

The strong presence of tribal communities played a crucial role in sustaining the market’s vibrancy, as rural markets traditionally thrive on their participation.

However, over time the market gradually lost its earlier charm and activities declined. The historic banyan tree, which once stood at the centre of the thriving marketplace, is still present today as a silent witness to that vibrant past. 

The area around the tree, where a few shops continue to operate, often turned muddy and waterlogged during the monsoon season, making it difficult for farmers to transport their agricultural produce to nearby areas such as Moharcherra, Totabari and Kalyanpur. The local traders also faced similar difficulties.

For many years, residents had been demanding a paved road in the area to ease transportation. Their long-standing demand has finally been fulfilled. With the initiative of the local MLA, a well-constructed bitumen road has been laid near the old market area using a paver machine. The work was carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD).

A local resident recalled that after the Baghabari massacre in Ghilatali on May 20, 2000, the number of tribal traders visiting the market gradually declined, which significantly affected the traditional trade of bamboo and thatching grass in the area.

A new market developed over time around 700 to 800 metres east of the old banyan tree. Despite this shift, residents continued to demand improvement of the muddy road near the old market site. 

With the construction of the new paved road, local people have expressed satisfaction and hope that the development will help revive economic activities in the region.