Tripura CM, Gadkari review highway projects; push time-bound execution of key road infrastructure plans

New Delhi/Agartala, July 1 (IANS) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday held a detailed review meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha in New Delhi to assess the progress of National Highway projects and discuss future road infrastructure development in the state.

A senior official of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the meeting focused on expediting ongoing National Highway projects, strengthening the maintenance of existing road infrastructure, and taking up new projects to improve connectivity within Tripura as well as with neighbouring states.

Chief Minister Saha, who also holds the Public Works Development (PWD) portfolio, expressed gratitude to Union Minister Gadkari for the remarkable expansion of the National Highway network in Tripura, which has grown from 198 km in 2014 to 923 km in 2026.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister raised and discussed several key issues and sought their implementation in a time-bound manner.

Chief Minister Saha said that the alignment for the proposed four-laning of the 130-km Churaibari (along Assam)-Champaknagar stretch of NH-8 has already been approved by the Ministry in consultation with the state government.

The proposed greenfield four-lane highway will run parallel to the railway line and will include tunnels through the Atharamura and Longtharai hill ranges.

Land acquisition for the ambitious project is expected to commence shortly.

The Chief Minister told during the meeting that the state government would hand more than 90 per cent of the required land and complete utility shifting for the remaining Ranirbazar-ISBT (Chandrapur) section of NH-8 by August 2026.

Following this, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will float the construction tender.

Chief Minister Saha also said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the four-laning of the Agartala-Udaipur section of NH-8 is in the final stage, considering the sharp increase in traffic volume, tourism and pilgrimage activities.

The alignment is expected to be finalised by August 2026, after which land acquisition will begin.

He also told that the DPR for upgrading the 24-km Udaipur-Amarpur road as a spur of NH-8 is nearing completion.

The road will be developed to National Highway standards, significantly improving connectivity between Udaipur, home to the revered Mata Tripura Sundari Temple, and Amarpur, which serves as the gateway to major tourist destinations such as Chabimura and Dumboor Lake.

The Chief Minister said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways would also take up the development of the 148-km Kamalpur-Ambassa-Gandacherra-Santirbazar road, considering its strategic importance for tourism, trade and natural gas-based economic activities in the region.

Chief Minister Saha also told that a fresh tender would be floated for the proposed 25-km Western Bypass of Agartala city by incorporating service lanes, keeping in view the densely populated areas along the proposed alignment.

He added that the proposed four-laning of the 10-km Eastern Bypass connecting Lembucherra and Khayerpur would be taken up after the alignment is finalised and land acquisition is completed.

The meeting also reviewed the condition of several existing National Highways.

In view of the deterioration of road surfaces on the Agartala-Khowai stretch of NH-108B, the Kumarghat-Kailashahar and Kailashahar-Khowai stretches of NH-208, and the Kailashahar-Kurti Bridge section of NH-208A, it was decided that these roads would be redeveloped in accordance with the recommendations of the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).

The Chief Minister also stressed the need for adequate drainage systems and retaining walls along National Highways to prevent flooding in adjoining habitations and minimise landslides in hilly areas during the monsoon season.

The meeting was told that the Assam government has been approached for widening the Kurti Bridge-Chandkhira section of the NH-208A Spur from the existing seven-metre carriageway to a width of 10 metres.

The Tripura government assured the Ministry of its full cooperation in ensuring timely land acquisition, forest clearances and utility shifting for the successful execution of all approved National Highway projects.

The meeting was attended by V. Umashankar, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Secretary; Krishna Kumar, NHIDCL Managing Director; Kiran Gitte, Tripura Public Works Department Secretary; Subrata Banik, PWD Chief Engineer (National Highways), among other senior officials.

Concluding the meeting, Chief Minister Manik Saha thanked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for sanctioning a record number of National Highway projects in Tripura, including the prestigious Agartala Ring Road project, which, he said, have significantly strengthened the state’s road infrastructure and facilitated investment, economic growth and regional connectivity.

–IANS

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