Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Sunday, 12 July 2026, announced that the state government is actively working to decentralise advanced healthcare infrastructure beyond the capital Agartala, with medical colleges planned for Dhalai, Unakoti, and Sabroom districts.

Posting in Bengali on X, Dr. Saha stated: 'Advanced medical facilities should not remain confined to Agartala alone — we are working to reach every district level of the state. In keeping with our promise, the work of establishing a medical college in Dhalai district with the support of Bandhan Bank is progressing. Through this, other investors have also been encouraged. I am very pleased that they are expressing interest in constructing medical colleges in Unakoti and Sabroom as well.'

Context

Tripura's healthcare infrastructure has historically been concentrated in Agartala, where the state's primary government medical college has operated since 2005. Residents of interior and border districts have long had to travel to the capital for tertiary care, creating both access gaps and financial burdens for rural and tribal populations. Dr. Saha's government has positioned district-level medical colleges as a priority commitment since he assumed office in 2022.

Policy Backdrop

The Dhalai project, supported by Bandhan Bank — a private-sector bank headquartered in Kolkata with a strong footprint in eastern and northeastern India — represents one of the first public-private partnership models for medical education in Tripura. The broader approach mirrors efforts in neighbouring states like Assam and Meghalaya, where private banks and corporates have been drawn into medical college projects to supplement state capacity. This aligns with the National Health Policy's emphasis on increasing MBBS seats and specialist care in underserved regions.

Northeastern states have increasingly pursued decentralisation of tertiary healthcare from their capitals through such partnerships, addressing both geographic isolation and demographic underservice. The involvement of a financial institution like Bandhan Bank signals a model that could attract further corporate investment into health infrastructure in the region.

Stakeholders and Impact

The proposed colleges in Unakoti — a district in northern Tripura carved out in 2012 with limited tertiary healthcare access — and Sabroom, a border town in South Tripura near Bangladesh, would serve some of the state's most underserved populations. Rural patients, tribal communities, and aspiring medical students from these districts stand to benefit directly from reduced travel distances and expanded local enrolment opportunities. The Chief Minister's statement also signals that additional private investors beyond Bandhan Bank have shown interest, though their identities have not been disclosed.

What's Next

Observers will watch for formal memoranda of understanding or land allocation announcements for the Unakoti and Sabroom projects, as well as state budget allocations or central Ministry of Health approvals. Construction milestones and admission timelines for the Dhalai college will serve as an early indicator of whether the public-private model is replicable across the state's remaining districts. The government's ability to convert investor interest into operational institutions will be the defining test of this decentralisation push.