Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Tripura had the potential to become the gateway of northeast to usher in all-round development of the region. The State had established road and water connectivity with Bangladesh and the government had been making efforts to complete the Agartala – Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail link soon to further boost the State’s position as an ‘economic corridor’.
The Prime Minister was speaking at a public rally at the Vivekananda Stadium here after remotely inaugurating an integrated state of the art terminal building at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport. The complex has been built at a cost of Rs. 450 crore over an area of 30,000 square metres.
Mr. Modi appreciated Tripura’s bamboo-based economy, saying bamboo products were fast getting into market as they were a viable alternative to plastic items. Horticulture and farm products of the State have also attracted markets elsewhere in the country and abroad, he noted.
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The new cargo facility at the airport would also help enhance exports from the State. “The spate of development is taking place, as the State has a double-engine (same party) government as in the Centre and development and welfare schemes are properly coordinated”, he said.
Citing an example, Mr. Modi stated that the previous government of the State could not properly implement the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana due to technical hindrance, but the present government headed by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb persuaded the Centre to amend the rules to support people. “Due to this amendment, 1,80,000 poor families of Tripura became beneficiaries under the scheme’.
He claimed that the ‘double-engine’ government was sensitive to the poor and all sections of society. “It [government] understands the pain of the common people”, he claimed. He lauded the progress made in COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the State. The new vaccination programme for 15-18 age group would equally be successful, he stressed.
‘Hugely corrupt’
Without naming the erstwhile CPI(M) led left front government, he held it as hugely corrupt. “The previous government used to ride on the vehicle of corruption and the current government rides on the vehicle of development. Our government works for the development, progress and welfare and has a strong commitment for people,” he observed.
Before delivering his speech, he interacted with a group of people who had benefitted from different government schemes. He spoke to a mother and her son, who got cured from cancer, on support from the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Mr. Modi also remotely launched the State-level Project Mission 100 of Vidyajyoti Schools and Mukhyamantri Tripura Gram Samriddhi Yojana.
Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Debbarman and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia also spoke.
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After arrival, Mr. Modi enquired about the facilities at the new building. Mr. Arya, Mr. Deb, Mr. Scindia and senior Civil Aviation Ministry officials welcomed him.
The Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport was originally built by the US Air Force during the Second World War in collaboration with King Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarman of the erstwhile princely State. It was formerly known as the Agartala Airport and renamed after the BJP-led coalition government came to power in 2018.
Airport officials said the large terminal complex was supported by latest IT network, sophisticated equipment and all modern amenities. The work of airport expansion and the new terminal building was launched in 2016.
Proximity to Bangladesh
The inauguration of the new terminal is seen as a first step to make the airport operational as an international airport owing to the State’s proximity to Bangladesh and accessibility to southeast Asian countries.
In February 2019, Mr. Modi unveiled a statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram outside the old terminal building. The king, who is credited with several development projects and establishment of educational institutions, died at an early age of 39 – two and half years before the princely State merged with the Indian Union.
