Tripura agrees to withdraw escort from NH 44

Agartala, Nov 14: The Tripura government today decided to withdraw the scheduled escort from National Highway 44 soon.

The decision to withdraw the escort after a decade and a half was taken following a noticeable decline in insurgency and demand from the Tripura Motor Transport Operators Co-ordination Committee (TMTOCC).

After holding a meeting with TMOCC officials and security agencies here Transport Minister Manik Dey told media that the Director General of Police(DGP) was asked to finalise the modalities of reorientation of escort system on the Assam-Agartala lifeline.

Mr Dey said the government favoured to install sufficient road opening party (ROP) and security mobile instead of schedule escort cover from NH 44 to pave way for faster movement of vehicles at least during day time.

''We have made a survey of the security situation and location of the Tripura State Rifles-manned camps along the vulnerable stretch of the Highway from Chakmaghat to Manu and it would not harm if schedule escort is withdrawn,'' said TMTOCC officials here today.

However, DGP Mr Pranay Sahay stated that the state home department would review the security system and threat perception on the Highway and then the final modalities would be set up.

Mr Sahay said the government had been forced to introduce the system of having long convoys of vehicles escorted by soldiers in 1995 on Tripura's lifeline with the rest of the country following brutal activities of banned militant outfits.

The escort cover has now become an irritant since the arrangement of vehicles in long convoys prolonged the journey, thereby posing major problems for the passengers.

UNI