Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday inaugurated the Haora Riverfront Development Project in the heart of Agartala, describing it as a significant milestone in the city’s beautification, environmental protection and development of citizen-friendly public spaces.
The Chief Minister also virtually inaugurated the newly developed Airport Road under the Agartala Smart City Mission and laid the foundation stone for a marriage hall aimed at providing affordable facilities for economically weaker sections of the Agartala Municipal Corporation area.
Addressing the inaugural programme, Dr. Saha said the Haora River is an integral part of Agartala’s history, heritage and urban civilisation, and stressed the need to protect the river while creating modern public amenities for citizens.
“The Haora River carries the heritage, civilisation and history of Agartala city. The Haora Riverfront Development Project has been developed with the objective of protecting the river and providing citizen-friendly facilities in the heart of the city,” the Chief Minister said.
Developed under the Agartala Smart City Mission at an estimated cost of around Rs. 96 crore, the project covers approximately 1,700 metres of the riverfront stretch from Steel Bridge to Dashamighat.
Dr. Saha said the project has been designed as a vibrant public space keeping the recreational and leisure needs of people of different age groups in mind.
“From children to senior citizens, various facilities have been created here so that people can spend their leisure time and enjoy the space,” he said, adding that the project would contribute significantly to the beautification and transformation of Agartala.
The Chief Minister also highlighted that a five-year operation and maintenance mechanism has been incorporated into the project. The required expenditure for this period has been provided within the overall project cost, he said.
According to Dr. Saha, projects of this nature have been successfully implemented in only a limited number of places in the country, and Agartala has now joined that list.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing Agartala under the Smart City Mission and said the project reflected the importance being attached to modern urban infrastructure and improved civic amenities.
Recalling the condition of the area in the past, the Chief Minister said the riverfront zone had once witnessed anti-social activities. The area has now been transformed into a public-friendly space, he said.
Dr. Saha further said the project would help prevent erosion along the Haora River and strengthen both banks, thereby reducing associated risks. He also emphasised the need to explore further expansion of the riverfront project in the future.
The Chief Minister said the state government was continuously exploring new initiatives to improve public services and quality of life.
“Every day, the government is thinking of new ways to provide better services to the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working not only for infrastructure development but also for the socio-economic development of the people. The Tripura government is also working in the same direction,” he said.
Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder described the occasion as a historic day for the residents of the city and said the riverfront project marked the beginning of a new chapter in Agartala’s urban development.
He said the Haora River is the soul of Agartala and that the riverfront project was one of several initiatives being undertaken to protect and improve the river and its surroundings.
Majumder said urban management was being upgraded in line with changing requirements and various initiatives were being implemented to meet citizens’ expectations. He also said the Agartala Municipal Corporation was committed to reducing traffic congestion and pollution in the city.
With the Durga Puja approaching, the Mayor said all concerned departments were working in coordination to ensure that visitors could celebrate the festival safely and comfortably. He also assured that road repair works across the city would be completed before the Puja festivities.
A blood donation camp was also organised as part of the inauguration programme.
At the beginning of the programme, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries visited the riverfront area and inspected the facilities developed under the project.
Deputy Mayor Monika Das Dutta, MLA Meena Rani Sarkar, Chief Minister’s Secretary Kiran Gitte, Urban Development Secretary Milind Ramteke, Agartala Smart City Mission CEO G.S. Naik, Municipal Commissioner Saju Wahid and other officials were present at the programme.