Unrest in Bangladesh Impacts Key Projects: Chief Minister of Tripura
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Agartala, Dec 15 (NationPress) The persistent unrest in Bangladesh has led to delays in the execution of multiple projects associated with the neighboring nation, according to Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday.
During the foundation-laying ceremony for seven projects in Udaipur, located in the southern district of Gomati, the Chief Minister remarked that the ‘Maitri Setu’, which spans the Feni River and connects India and Bangladesh by road, is ready for operation; however, it remains unusable due to the ongoing unrest in the neighboring country.
In addition to the ‘Maitri Setu’, several other initiatives have also faced delays as a result of the situation in Bangladesh, he noted, mentioning that the double-lane bridge would serve as a crucial link for all northeastern states, facilitating connections with various global locations via the Chittagong International Seaport, situated just 72 km from southern Tripura.
On March 9, 2021, the ‘Maitri Setu’, stretching 1.888 km and constructed at an expense of Rs 129 crore, was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. This bridge connects Sabroom in southern Tripura to the Chittagong seaport in Bangladesh via Ramgarh.
Chief Minister Saha mentioned that to stimulate investment, the state government has earmarked Rs 7,000 crore in the state budget for infrastructure development.
“With the support of the World Bank, the state government is executing Rs 1,400 crore multi-purpose projects aimed at the comprehensive socio-economic upliftment of the tribal population in Tripura,” the Chief Minister added.
Tribal communities account for one-third of Tripura’s total population of approximately four million.
Addressing concerns regarding the escalating drug issue, CM Saha, who also oversees the Home and Health departments, announced that the state government plans to establish a drug rehabilitation center in each of the eight districts.
The Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) Ministry has approved Rs 200 crore for the establishment of these de-addiction centers.
