Agartala, March 6: Tripura is set to gain prominence as a top tourist destination, with massive infrastructure development projects underway, backed by central government funds and external aided loans, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury announced. He revealed that additional projects are in the pipeline and are expected to receive approval in the upcoming financial year, as assured by Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during their recent meeting in New Delhi.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat on Thursday, alongside senior officials from his department who accompanied him to the national capital, Chowdhury stated that three Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) worth ₹150 crore have been submitted under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. These projects include tourism infrastructure development in Jampui Hills (North Tripura) with adventure sports facilities and two other projects in West Tripura. The Union Minister has assured their approval in the new fiscal year.
He further informed that the Tourism Ministry had previously sanctioned ₹97 crore, of which ₹67 crore has already been released for the construction of replicas of 51 Hindu Shakti Piths at Bandwar in Udaipur, Gomati district. The tendering process for this project has been recently completed.
Beyond tourism, Chowdhury, who also holds the Transport and Food portfolios, discussed several key developmental projects with Union Ministers of Railways, Civil Aviation, and Food during his recent visit. The agenda included: railway electrification and doubling of tracks, introduction of Vande Bharat Expressy in Tripura and intercity trains with Guwahati, world-class modernization of Agartala railway station, strengthening rail connectivity for the upcoming IOCL depot at Sekerkote, expediting international flight operations from Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport, reopening of Kailashahar Airport in Unakoti district, setting up of an FCI Regional Office in Agartala . With these extensive development plans, Chowdhury expressed confidence that Tripura will soon emerge as a key tourism and transportation hub, enhancing connectivity, infrastructure, and economic growth in the state.
