By Firstdespatch Desk May 15, 2025
Agartala, May 15 (FD) Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has once again urged Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to intervene and support the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Tripura.
The second high-level meeting of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), chaired by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, was held today. Tripura was represented virtually by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, and other senior officials of the state administration.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister sought the Ministry’s support for several key proposals. These included initiating international flight services from Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport in Agartala, declaring the state’s gymnasium academy as a National Gymnastics Academy, upgrading National Highway No. 6, and providing subsidies on gas prices. He also raised various other issues related to the state's development.
Dr. Saha highlighted the Tripura government's commitment to fostering industrial growth by creating a skilled workforce. He elaborated on various initiatives being undertaken to accelerate infrastructure development across the state. He further noted that both the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and per capita income of Tripura have seen significant growth, positioning the state as a frontrunner in overall development.
In his address, Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia praised Tripura’s achievements in improving its GSDP and per capita income, along with other developmental initiatives aimed at sustainable growth. He remarked that if other Northeastern states follow Tripura’s example, the region as a whole will advance more rapidly on the path to development.
Minister Scindia also mentioned the inclusion of Unakoti, a heritage site in Tripura, in the North-East Tourism Circuit and emphasized the launch of a 19-seater passenger flight service from Kailashahar. He assured the state of central support for promoting palm cultivation and encouraged the identification of key sectors to focus on development and employment generation.
Additionally, a presentation was made by Kiran Gitte, Secretary of the Good Governance Department, on the progress made by the state government following decisions from the previous meeting. His comprehensive report covered developments in healthcare, modernization of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), the establishment of an Integrated Logistics Hub, global branding of Queen Pineapple, promotion of palm cultivation, marketing of agarwood products, the reactivation of Kailashahar Airport, and infrastructure development in border villages and towns. He also discussed the state's strategic roadmap towards achieving key developmental goals by the year 2047.
Furthermore, the second virtual meeting of the High-Level Task Force of DoNER, with CM Dr. Manik Saha as the convener, was held today at the State Secretariat. This meeting focused on investment-related issues in the Northeast region. The Chief Minister highlighted various initiatives taken by Northeastern states since the previous meeting. Key points included the formulation of an Investment Promotion Policy, identification of state-specific sectors for investment, potential investors, value addition, marketing, logistics, and connectivity.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia appreciated the Task Force's work and emphasized the urgency of launching a comprehensive Investment Promotion Policy. He also recommended uploading each state's land bank details to the Investment Promotion Policy portal.
This virtual meeting was also attended by Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang, Sikkim’s Industries and Commerce Minister T. Bhutia, and Meghalaya Chief Secretary B.K. Bakshi. Representing Tripura were Secretary of the Good Governance Department Kiran Gitte, Planning Department Secretary L.T. Darlong, and other senior officials.