Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed MP Biplab Kumar Deb that conservation of Unakoti’s sculptures, rock-cut carvings and cafeteria upgradation are progressing. The initiatives aim to preserve Tripura’s heritage and strengthen Unakoti as a globally recognised tourist destination.
The Central Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the historic Unakoti heritage site in Tripura by accelerating conservation work on its renowned sculptures and rock-cut carvings while also upgrading tourism infrastructure, including the construction and improvement of a cafeteria. The development was communicated by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to West Tripura Member of Parliament and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb in response to issues raised by the MP during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha.
According to the Union Minister’s letter, conservation and preservation work at Unakoti is currently underway and is expected to be completed in the near future. The project includes restoration of the site’s unique rock-cut sculptures and ancient carvings, which are regarded as one of India’s most significant Shaivite heritage treasures. Alongside conservation efforts, the Centre is also upgrading the cafeteria facility to improve amenities for the growing number of visitors arriving at the archaeological site.
The minister informed MP Biplab Deb that all centrally protected monuments in Tripura continue to function under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India’s Aizawl Circle. Conservation and maintenance of the state’s eight centrally protected monuments, including Unakoti, are being managed through the ASI sub-circle offices located at Udaipur and Kailashahar.
Responding to the demand for shifting the ASI Circle Office from Aizawl to Agartala, Shekhawat stated that such a proposal could not be accommodated at present due to the limited resources available with the Archaeological Survey of India. He clarified that while the demand had been considered, the organisation’s current administrative and financial constraints make relocation of the Circle Office unfeasible.
The Union Minister’s letter also referred to earlier financial assistance provided to the Tripura Government for development works outside the protected monument area. According to the communication, those funds were subsequently utilised by the state government for other purposes instead of the originally proposed projects. There has been no official response from the Tripura Government regarding the minister’s observation.
Reacting to the Centre’s response, MP Biplab Kumar Deb expressed his gratitude to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for giving importance to the issues he had raised in Parliament. In a public statement shared on social media, Deb thanked the minister for initiating special measures to conserve Unakoti’s priceless sculptures and rock-cut artistic heritage while simultaneously strengthening tourism infrastructure through the cafeteria development project.
Deb stated that Unakoti represents not only Tripura’s rich cultural and historical identity but also one of India’s most remarkable Shaivite pilgrimage destinations. He said the Centre’s initiatives would contribute significantly towards preserving the site’s archaeological legacy for future generations while enhancing visitor facilities.
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The MP further expressed confidence that the ongoing conservation work and tourism infrastructure development would elevate Unakoti’s profile on the international tourism map, attracting more domestic and foreign visitors to the heritage destination. He emphasised that proper preservation, maintenance and sustainable tourism development are essential to unlocking the site’s full cultural and economic potential.
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With restoration work progressing and visitor amenities being improved, the Centre’s latest initiatives are expected to strengthen conservation efforts at Unakoti while promoting Tripura’s heritage tourism and reinforcing the state’s position as an emerging destination for cultural and religious tourism.
