Unrest and an anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh have delayed several critical projects essential for boosting Tripura’s economy, Chief Minister Manik Saha confirmed on Sunday. Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for seven projects in Udaipur, Dr. Saha expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the operational timelines of these initiatives.
Among the affected projects is the ‘Maitri Setu’, a 1.888 km-long double-lane bridge built over the Feni River, connecting Sabroom in southern Tripura with Bangladesh’s Chittagong seaport via Ramgarh. Despite being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on March 9, 2021, the bridge remains non-operational due to the prevailing unrest in Bangladesh. Constructed at an Indian expenditure of ₹129 crore, the bridge aims to serve as a gateway for northeastern states to access international markets via the Chittagong port, located just 72 km from southern Tripura.
Dr. Saha also noted delays in other cross-border projects that are integral to the region’s economic and infrastructural development. To counter these setbacks, the state government has allocated ₹7,000 crore in its budget for infrastructure development and is implementing multi-purpose socio-economic projects worth ₹1,400 crore, with support from the World Bank.
Acknowledging the socio-economic challenges faced by the state’s tribal population, which constitutes one-third of Tripura’s four million residents, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to their holistic development.
Additionally, Dr. Saha addressed the growing drug menace, announcing plans to establish drug de-addiction centers in all eight districts of Tripura. The Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) has sanctioned ₹200 crore for this initiative.
