Agartala, July 7 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said ensuring the delivery of all basic civic amenities and essential services to the people remains one of the state government’s foremost priorities, while asserting that there would be no compromise on infrastructure development, transparency, and the expansion of citizen-centric services.

The chief minister said the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) has been undertaking a series of initiatives to improve civic amenities by creating modern infrastructure across the municipal area. He said the state government does not want to make any compromise in the development of infrastructure and the expansion of citizen services with complete transparency.

Saha made these remarks while inaugurating the newly constructed ward office of Ward No. 40 of the AMC at Baradowali in Agartala on Tuesday.

Highlighting the transformation of the state capital, the chief minister said Agartala has witnessed significant changes since 2019 through the implementation of well-planned development projects undertaken by the present government.

He said in the past, due to government apathy, many water bodies within the municipal corporation area were filled up, and road spaces were encroached upon, creating serious problems in sewage management across the city. Over the past few years, the present state government, in coordination with the AMC, has been implementing planned development initiatives to transform Agartala into a cleaner, more organised and better-managed city.

Saha said 24 water bodies in different parts of the municipal corporation area have been renovated and beautified at a total cost of Rs 137 crore, significantly improving the city’s environment and urban landscape.

He also said the government has ensured household drinking water supply in areas of the municipal corporation where residents had remained deprived of potable water for many years.

Saha said township projects have also been taken up for the benefit of people living in urban areas. As part of these initiatives, 48 flats have already been allotted, while work on the Lighthouse Project is progressing steadily.

Referring to the housing sector, the chief minister said that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the government has set a target to construct 79,878 houses at an estimated cost of Rs 1,292 crore. Of these, more than 76,000 houses have already been completed, while another 4,300 houses will be provided under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0.

The chief minister further said that several projects are being implemented under the Smart City Mission to develop Agartala into a modern, sustainable, and technology-driven smart city, equipped with improved civic infrastructure and better public services.

Stressing that the government’s focus extends beyond civic infrastructure, Saha said sustained efforts are also being made to generate alternative livelihood opportunities for urban residents.

He informed that 6,725 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been formed under the Tripura Urban Livelihood Mission (TULM), while the allocation under the Tripura Urban Employment Programme (TUEP) has been enhanced to create more employment opportunities.

He added that various welfare measures and financial assistance are also being extended to sanitation workers engaged in maintaining cleanliness in urban local bodies across the state, including the AMC.

Agartala Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, Deputy Mayor Monika Das Dutta, and AMC Commissioner Saju Wahid A., along with other senior officials and public representatives, were present at the inaugural programme.

–IANS

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