Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in New Delhi and urged him to initiate the Vande Bharat train service from Agartala to Guwahati and to double-lane the state’s railway tracks, a move aimed at strengthening the region’s transport infrastructure.
During the meeting, CM Saha requested the Prime Minister to increase the ceiling limit for Externally Aided Projects (EAPs), highlighting that several critical projects under the Urban Development Department, Tourism Department, and Agartala Municipal Corporation remain stalled due to existing funding limits.
On Monday, he had also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to seek an increase in the EAP loan cap to support ambitious developmental initiatives.
CM Saha proposed the addition of 15 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Tripura.
He further requested the establishment of an Agar Board and research centre to promote the Agar industry and sought the declaration of Unakoti as a sustainable heritage development site.
Social Welfare Measures
The Chief Minister emphasised the need to include the backward Reng tribal community under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and requested an increase in wheat allocation for Tripura under the Public Distribution System (PDS). He also apprised the Prime Minister of ongoing developments in the state, seeking support for key initiatives.
On Tuesday, CM Saha held discussions with Union Health Minister JP Nadda regarding health infrastructure and manpower requirements, including the establishment of a new medical college at Kulai in Dhalai district on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis.
The Chief Minister also proposed a Tertiary Ophthalmology Hospital in Agartala, an Immunology Lab for organ transplant services at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital, and requested funding for advanced medical instruments at the Super Speciality Block of AGMC.
Additionally, he sought increased funds for Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to settle pending claims.
Tripura currently hosts three medical colleges: Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC), Tripura Medical College (TMC), and Tripura Santiniketan Medical College (TSMC), with TSMC being private and TMC managed by a state government-constituted society.
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