Tripura and Mizoram will hold official-level talks in Agartala next week to address the long-pending 109-km inter-state border dispute. The meeting, initiated by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, aims to pave the way for Chief Minister-level discussions and a lasting resolution.
Senior officials from the governments of Tripura and Mizoram are expected to meet in Agartala next week to discuss the 109-km border dispute shared by the two Northeastern states. The proposed meeting marks a renewed effort by both governments to settle differences through dialogue and mutual understanding.
According to senior Tripura government officials, the official-level discussions will lay the groundwork for a subsequent meeting between Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma. While the exact date of the meeting has yet to be finalised, officials expressed optimism that the discussions would pave the way for meaningful progress in resolving one of the region’s long-standing territorial disputes.
The initiative to revive dialogue was taken by Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, who raised the issue during the 73rd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held in Shillong on June 4. During the meeting, Dr Saha proposed that the two states first hold official-level discussions before convening a meeting between the Chief Ministers to deliberate on the matter and identify a mutually acceptable solution.
Officials in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma welcomed the proposal and agreed that senior officials from both states should first examine the disputed areas and related issues before political-level discussions take place.
The NEC plenary session, where the proposal was discussed, was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, along with the Governors and Chief Ministers of all eight Northeastern states. The presence of top central and state leaders highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and addressing inter-state concerns through dialogue.
Tripura shares a 109-km inter-state border with Mizoram, while Bangladesh surrounds the state on its southern, western and northern sides, accounting for an 856-km international boundary—nearly 84 per cent of Tripura’s total border. The state also shares a 53-km border with neighbouring Assam.
The boundary dispute between Tripura and Mizoram has persisted for decades, with disagreements frequently emerging whenever either state undertakes development or infrastructure projects in areas claimed by both sides. Such disputes have occasionally created tensions between local communities and administrative authorities.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in May last year when unidentified miscreants hurled moderate-intensity explosives at an under-construction eco-tourism facility at Phuldungsei village along the Tripura-Mizoram border in North Tripura district. The explosion caused significant damage to the tourism infrastructure being developed by the Tripura government.
Following the incident, police officials from both Tripura and Mizoram jointly visited the border village to assess the security situation and maintain peace. Tripura Tourism and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury also held a review meeting with senior district officials at Jampui, where it was decided that the damaged eco-tourism project would be reconstructed.
Residents of Phuldungsei and neighbouring areas have long maintained that the village falls within overlapping territorial claims of both Tripura and Mizoram, making it one of the most sensitive stretches along the disputed boundary.
Officials from the Tripura Tourism Department had earlier stated that the tourism infrastructure was being developed on forest land at an estimated cost of ₹3.12 crore under the Centre’s flagship Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Union Tourism Ministry. The project aims to promote eco-tourism and improve connectivity in the remote border region.
In the aftermath of the explosion, both state governments strengthened security deployment in the disputed area and maintained close coordination to prevent any escalation. The Tripura government also formally took up the issue with the Mizoram government through official channels.
Over the years, district administrations of North Tripura and Mizoram’s Mamit district, along with officials from the Survey of India, have conducted several rounds of discussions and joint inspections to identify disputed stretches and explore administrative solutions. However, no permanent settlement has been reached so far.
Civil society organisations and student bodies in Mizoram have also, on several occasions, opposed construction activities undertaken by the Tripura government in areas they describe as disputed inter-state territory. Despite these recurring disagreements, both state governments have consistently emphasised maintaining peace and resolving differences through dialogue.
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Officials believe the upcoming meeting in Agartala represents an important opportunity to revive the negotiation process. If the official-level talks yield positive outcomes, the proposed meeting between Chief Ministers Dr Manik Saha and Lalduhoma could become a crucial step towards achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Tripura-Mizoram border dispute, while strengthening cooperation and regional harmony in the Northeast.
