Agartala, March 14: Despite objections from various tribal youth organizations, opposition parties, and even BJP ally Tipra Motha’s chief Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, the Tripura government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), a Tata Group subsidiary, to establish a luxury hotel at the historic Pushpabanta Palace.
The agreement, finalized on Friday, was signed by Kiran Gitte, Secretary of Industries & Commerce, on behalf of the Tripura government, and Jayanta Das, Area Director & General Manager of IHCL. The signing took place in the office of the Tripura Institution for Transformation in presence of Chief Minister Manik Saha, Industry Minister Santana Chakma, and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury.
As per the MoU, IHCL will develop a five-star palace hotel, Taj Pushpabanta Palace, featuring approximately 100 rooms under the Taj Palace brand with an investment of ₹250 crore. The majority of accommodations will be outside the heritage structure, with a few signature suites housed within the palace to retain its royal charm.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Saha described the agreement as a historic milestone, emphasizing that this is the first time IHCL has partnered with a government to develop a royal heritage hotel.
He asserted that the project aligns with Tripura’s modernization vision, generating 200 direct and several indirect employment opportunities, boosting tourism, and preserving the Manikya dynasty’s heritage.
He further stated that all concerns regarding the conversion of the palace into a hotel were addressed through multiple discussions before finalizing the MoU.
The Pushpabanta Palace, also known as Kunjaban Palace, was built in 1917 by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya. Post-Tripura’s merger with India, it served as the Governor’s residence until 2018.
The Pushpabanta Palace was initially planned to be developed as a national-level digital cultural museum, the foundation stone of which was laid by Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, on October 14, 2022.
Opposition parties, including the CPIM and Congress, demanded heritage preservation instead of hotel conversion.
Despite the opposition, CM Saha highlighted that the project would position Tripura as a global tourism destination while safeguarding its historical legacy.
