Tripura MP Biplab Deb announced that all future roads in the state will be RCC-built to withstand heavy monsoon damage. He also pushed for the Light House Project’s completion and chaired a DISHA meeting to assess central schemes. Deb’s vision emphasizes long-term, durable infrastructure in Tripura.
West Tripura MP and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has announced that all upcoming road infrastructure projects in Tripura will be constructed using reinforced cement concrete (RCC) instead of bitumen. The decision, he said, is aimed at ensuring long-lasting and weather-resilient roads across the state.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Deb revealed that he had met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, to make the case for RCC roads in the state. Deb emphasized that Tripura, like other parts of the North Eastern region, experiences heavy monsoon rainfall that significantly damages traditional bitumen roads.
“During my meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, I said that once the roads are RCC made, they will require less maintenance. Since North East and Tripura witness heavy rains in the monsoons, the bitumen roads get damaged frequently. In order to ensure that the state gets durable and long-lasting roads, RCC is the only viable solution,” Deb explained.
Deb further informed that Minister Gadkari responded positively to the proposal. A high-level inspection team will be dispatched to Tripura soon to assess the current situation and ensure the transition of future roadway projects to RCC.
Push for Completion of Light House Project
Apart from the road infrastructure proposal, Deb also raised concerns regarding the pending Light House Project in Tripura, which has seen significant delays. Initiated under the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), the Light House Project aims to provide affordable housing using modern construction technologies.
“The Light House Project is pending for a long time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project faced multiple delays. I have requested the central government to allocate additional funds for its speedy completion,” Deb stated.
He explained that the selected land for the housing scheme was low-lying, and as a result, additional piling was needed to stabilize the construction base. This unforeseen challenge increased the financial burden. The revised proposal for extra funding is currently under legal review, Deb said. Once cleared, the project is expected to provide housing to nearly one thousand underprivileged families in the state.
Monitoring Central Schemes Through DISHA
On the same day, Deb chaired a critical meeting of the DISHA (District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee) at the Udaipur Zilla Parishad office complex. The meeting was aimed at reviewing the implementation and progress of various centrally sponsored schemes in the region.
“DISHA meetings are held under the leadership of the local Member of Parliament. These sessions are crucial to evaluating the performance of schemes directly impacting the lives of the common people. All officials from the line departments and elected representatives were present today,” Deb noted.
After arriving in Agartala earlier in the day, Deb headed directly to Udaipur to preside over the meeting. These periodic reviews under the DISHA framework help ensure better coordination among departments and improve the delivery of government initiatives on the ground.
A Vision for Stronger Infrastructure
Biplab Deb’s call for RCC roads is being viewed as a long-term infrastructural vision to overcome the recurring damages caused by seasonal rainfalls in the region. Experts say that while RCC roads may have higher initial costs compared to bitumen, they prove to be more cost-effective in the long run due to lower maintenance requirements and a longer lifespan.
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Deb’s efforts to bring attention to Tripura’s infrastructural challenges—both in transportation and housing—reflect a proactive approach toward sustainable development in the North Eastern state.
As Tripura continues to grow, such interventions by public representatives will be key to ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with environmental and social realities.
