AGARTALA: In bid to enhance urban infrastructure and tourism facilities, the Centre has inked a staggering Rs 8 billion (approx) loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The accord, officially titled the Tripura Urban and Tourism Development Project, aims to usher in a new era of development in the Northeastern state.
The crucial agreement was inked by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs for the Union government, and Nilaya Mitash, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission, as disclosed in an official statement issued on December 22.
According to Mukherjee, the project’s focal points include a comprehensive enhancement of municipal infrastructure and public services within Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) along Tripura’s major National Highways.
Simultaneously, the initiative seeks to elevate key tourism sites, establishing Tripura as a prominent gateway to the Northeast.
“The project will support the state as a gateway to the region by developing tourist destinations along highways and by improving urban governance and financial sustainability through improved resource mobilisation and credit worthiness,” Mitash told a national news agency.
Mitash further elaborated on the ADB’s multifaceted support, highlighting its role in fortifying the capacity of ULBs.
This includes integrated planning, with a specific focus on climate and disaster resilience, as well as the identification of community and private sector involvement in tourism and marketing, he added.
The comprehensive scope of the project also encompasses the upgrading of urban water supply systems, entailing the installation of 42 km of new transmission and distribution pipes, the establishment of four state-of-the-art water treatment plants, and the improvement of 55 km of stormwater drains, as outlined in the statement.
In addition to these vital upgrades, the project is set to enhance 21 km of urban roads, incorporating features designed to cater to the specific needs of the elderly, women, children, and differently-abled individuals.
