Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said the Asian Development Bank has approved a $61 million loan and $1 million technical assistance (TA) grant for urban development in Agartala. In his social media posts the Chief Minister said , with this financial support, Tripura will march ahead on the path of becoming a model state as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The loan amount, he mentioned, would be used to upgrade 48-km stormwater drainage and construct 23-km climate-resilient roads.
“This will further enhance the quality of life in Tripura and make the state an economic–commercial hub of the northeast, the Chief Minister commented.
According to a media report, the drainage and roads would be integrated with existing intelligent smart city components, and incorporating design elements responsive to the needs of the elderly, women, children and differently abled.
The project will revitalize the city by renovating open spaces and creating water recreation and lakeside walkways in the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Lake and the Ujjayanta Palace.
The project has a built-in component to increase the capacity of the Agartala Municipal Corporation, and other relevant agencies, on project management and operation and maintenance of urban infrastructure, own-source revenue generation, and climate- and disaster-resilient urban planning, gender analysis and mainstreaming, and gender-responsive budgeting. The Ujjayanta Palace staff will be trained on improving tourism operations, and capacity building on livelihood improvement will be provided to shopkeepers, street vendors, and artisans.
The Technical Assistance grant from ADB’s Technical Assistance Special Fund would be utilized to support the project’s capacity building and awareness-raising activities.
The TA will also help the government establish the foundation for future institutional reforms and development for improved public service delivery.
“ADB’s support is aligned with the Government of India’s national Smart Cities Mission program, which aims to drive economic growth through local area development,” the report quoted ADB Urban Development Specialist for South Asia Pedro Almeida.
“The project will upgrade the city’s urban infrastructure and services and create a livable city that will facilitate economic resilience and improve the quality of life of its residents.”
—
