Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi to discuss the need for increasing the ceiling on externally aided projects (EAPs) in the state.
Taking to Facebook, Saha said, “Met Hon’ble Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman ji in New Delhi today. Discussed the need for enhancing the ceiling limit of Externally Aided Projects (EAPs), since several key projects under Urban Development, Tourism, and the Agartala Municipal Corporation are awaiting progress due to the present ceiling restriction.”
Currently, the Centre has capped Tripura’s externally aided projects at Rs 4,000 crore for the next three years.
Officials noted that after accounting for non-plan expenditures such as salaries, pensions, and loan interest in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the state will have approximately Rs 10,000 crore available.
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Saha also highlighted that out of this amount, Tripura must allocate 25 per cent to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and 10 per cent to local bodies, placing further constraints on funds available for development projects.
The chief minister’s appeal comes amid growing demands to accelerate infrastructure and urban development projects that have been stalled due to the existing funding limits.
