Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Thursday virtually inaugurated 21 development projects worth Rs 38.73 crore in Khowai district and laid the foundation stone for a multi-storeyed parking facility during a programme held at the Khowai Town Hall premises. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the state government is working with the vision of contributing to the goal of building a developed India by 2047 through continuous infrastructure development. He said that after 2018, Tripura has witnessed a new phase of progress and development.
Dr. Saha stated that during the previous financial year, development projects worth around Rs 1,500 crore were inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid across the state. In the current financial year, projects worth nearly Rs 1,200 crore have already been launched or initiated.
Highlighting development in Khowai district, he said that since December 6, 2022, a total of 71 development projects worth approximately Rs 1,033.62 crore have been taken up in the district. Of these, 19 projects have been completed, while work on the remaining 52 projects is in progress.
The Chief Minister also outlined several major infrastructure initiatives in the district, including:
Rs 160.79 crore for road development from Khowai to Teliamura and onward,
Rs 115.81 crore for road connectivity from Agartala to Kailashahar via Khowai,
Rs 160.86 crore for strengthening rural road connectivity,
Rs 91.59 crore for riverbank protection, water conservation and flood control along the Khowai River,
Construction of an Eklavya Model Residential School at Padmabil at a cost of Rs 50.86 crore,
Construction of a 100-bed district hospital in Khowai with an estimated cost of Rs 45.46 crore, and
Financial assistance for educational infrastructure and road development in various parts of the district.
Referring to the recently held business conclave in Agartala, Dr. Saha said both domestic and international investors have shown interest in investing in Tripura, with Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth over Rs 1.32 lakh crore already signed. He attributed this to the state's peaceful environment and improving investment climate.
The Chief Minister said Tripura has achieved a literacy rate of 95.6 per cent, one of the highest in the country. He noted that over Rs 1,178 crore has been invested in improving infrastructure in 213 schools, while employment generation, drinking water coverage and housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana have also witnessed significant progress.
Speaking on women's empowerment, Dr. Saha said more than one lakh women in the state have become "Lakhpati Didis" through self-help groups. He also highlighted improvements in the state's healthcare sector, stating that the number of patients travelling outside Tripura for treatment has declined by nearly 80 per cent due to enhanced medical facilities within the state. He added that the government has expanded medical education by increasing seats in MBBS, BDS and nursing courses, besides establishing Homeopathy and Ayurvedic medical colleges.
The programme was attended by Chief Whip Kalyani Saha Roy, MLA Pinaki Das Chowdhury, Khowai Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Aparna Singha Roy, senior government officials and other dignitaries. Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated a new electric crematorium at Lalchhara Mahashmashan and unveiled the district administration's Swachhata Mission mascot at the District Magistrate's office.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma participated in the virtual inauguration programme from Asharambari Higher Secondary School, where projects worth around Rs 10.86 crore were inaugurated, including a science laboratory, new classrooms, a 50-seat girls' hostel and a new school building. Addressing the gathering, the minister described the projects as a significant milestone for the Asharambari Assembly constituency and expressed hope that the improved educational infrastructure would benefit students and contribute to the district's development.