Agartala, Sept. 9: The Tripura government will withdraw escorts from a stretch of National Highway 44 and is planing to allow vehicles ply round the clock in the future.

The director-general of police, Pranay Sahay, told journalists today that the state government would withdraw the twice-a-day CRPF escorts to convoys on the vulnerable 70km stretch of the Assam-Agartala national highway between Chakmaghat in West Tripura district and Manu in Dhalai district from September 14.

Announcing this in the secretariat, Sahay said the government’s decision to withdraw security cover after 16 years followed a tangible decline in insurgency and major improvement in security scenario in the state since 2003.

“But there will be no dearth of security on the highway because the CRPF jawans will go on road-opening patrols on regular basis twice a day and in addition mobile CRPF patrols will remain operational to ensure the safety and security of passengers and vehicles.”

Sahay said the demand for withdrawing escorts was raised by the syndicates of motor vehicles and travelling agencies after railway connectivity was extended to Tripura since October 5 last year.

“We took stock of the security situation and finally transport minister Manik Dey held a high-level meeting in the council room of the state secretariat on August 30 with the representatives of motor syndicates, travel agencies, police and the CRPF officials where it was decided that the escort cover will be withdrawn from September 14.” he said.

The stretch of the road will be open from 8am to 5pm.