Agartala, Dec 3: Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha today chaired a high-level meeting of the “North Eastern Region (NER) Development Forum” at the state guest house, focusing on strengthening logistics, transportation, and connectivity across the Northeast. The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region B.L. Verma, several senior officials from the Ministry of DoNER, and key representatives from the state government including Ministers, Secretaries, and District Officials.
The forum reviewed ongoing and proposed development projects in Tripura and other Northeastern states, with emphasis on boosting road, rail, air, digital, and last-mile connectivity. The Chief Minister stressed that enhanced connectivity is essential for unlocking the region’s economic potential and improving accessibility in remote and hilly areas.
CM Saha highlighted that the Northeast region has immense possibilities in trade, tourism, agriculture, and natural resources, but logistical challenges and infrastructure gaps have long hindered growth. He added that the Central Government has taken transformative steps toward integrating the region with national markets and global value chains.
He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between Central and State agencies to accelerate project implementation. Issues such as road widening, maintenance of hill roads, strengthening border trade points, and improving the movement of goods were discussed extensively. The CM also underscored the importance of ensuring timely completion of ongoing projects and adopting “last-mile delivery” solutions to reach remote areas.
The Chief Minister said the state government is committed to expanding road and rail networks, modernising airports, increasing digital connectivity, and promoting new economic corridors. He noted that several projects related to logistics, transport infrastructure, and industrial development are in progress, and many new proposals have been submitted to the Centre.
Union Minister B.L. Verma praised Tripura’s efforts in enhancing connectivity and highlighted the Centre’s commitment to further accelerating development in the Northeastern states. He said the collaborative approach between the Centre and the states is essential for achieving sustainable growth and improving the quality of life of people in the region.
The meeting concluded with a detailed review of project proposals and status updates from the DoNER Ministry and state departments. Several important decisions were taken to fast-track development initiatives under the North Eastern Region’s long-term infrastructure vision.
