Prime Minister’s Dream Lighthouse Project Yet to Be Completed in Tripura; Beneficiaries Demand Immediate Handover of Flats
Agartala, June 1: Frustration continues to mount among beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s ambitious Lighthouse Housing Project in Tripura as the project remains incomplete even after nearly six years since its launch. On Monday, hundreds of beneficiaries gathered at the Tripura Urban Planning and Development Authority (TUDA) office and met the Commissioner, demanding clarity on the prolonged delay in handing over the flats.
During the meeting, the TUDA Commissioner reportedly assured the beneficiaries that the flats would be handed over by December 2026. However, the assurance failed to satisfy many of the beneficiaries, who expressed deep dissatisfaction over the repeated postponements and missed deadlines.
According to the beneficiaries, the project was originally launched in 2021 under the Prime Minister’s Lighthouse Projects initiative, aimed at providing affordable housing through modern construction technologies. Beneficiaries were initially promised possession of their flats within one year of making full payments. However, despite paying amounts ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹7 lakh, many families are still waiting for their homes.
One woman beneficiary alleged that she and several others have visited the TUDA office at least 10 to 12 times over the years seeking updates on the project. She stated that officials have repeatedly provided assurances without fulfilling them. She warned that if the flats are not handed over by the newly promised deadline of December 2026, beneficiaries would demand a full refund along with interest.
“We paid the entire amount nearly five years ago. Every time we come here, we are given a new deadline. If the government cannot provide the flats, they should return our money with interest,” she said.
The beneficiaries claimed that only around 30 to 35 percent of the total construction work has been completed so far and that none of the seven residential blocks are fully ready for occupation. They questioned how the authorities would be able to complete and hand over all the units within the next six months when major works, including sanitation, electricity, water supply and boundary infrastructure, are still unfinished.
Another beneficiary, Pradip Kumar Saha from Belonia Municipal Council area, said that around 1,000 families had deposited the full amount for the flats after receiving notices from TUDA in 2021. He explained that beneficiaries under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category paid ₹5 lakh each, while those under other eligible categories paid ₹7 lakh each.
Saha said many families sold land, property and other assets to arrange the required funds, believing they would receive their homes within the promised timeframe. Instead, they have been waiting for nearly five years with no clear completion date in sight.
“We dreamt of owning a house in Agartala under the Prime Minister’s dream housing project. We wanted to provide better educational opportunities and living conditions for our children. But today we have neither received our flats nor earned any return on the money we invested,” he said.
The beneficiaries further pointed out that if the same amount had been invested in fixed-income schemes such as National Savings Certificates (NSC), they would have earned significant interest over the past five years. Instead, their money remains locked in the housing project without any benefit.
Several beneficiaries alleged that TUDA officials repeatedly changed deadlines, first promising possession within one year, then extending it to multiple years. Earlier this year, they were assured that the flats would be handed over by April or May 2026. However, with May now over and construction still incomplete, beneficiaries said their confidence in the authorities has eroded.
The protesters also highlighted that Lighthouse Projects in other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, have already been completed and handed over to beneficiaries. They questioned why Tripura remains the only state where the project has not been completed.
According to the beneficiaries, construction work at the site remains extremely slow, with only a few hundred workers reportedly engaged in the project. They argued that increasing manpower could significantly accelerate the pace of work.
Many families said they continue to spend between ₹7,000 and ₹10,000 per month on rented accommodation in Agartala while waiting for the promised flats. They stated that receiving the homes would greatly reduce their financial burden.
The beneficiaries appealed to Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Housing Department officials and state BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee to intervene and ensure the project is completed without further delay.
They emphasized that their demand is not political but purely humanitarian and economic. The beneficiaries said they simply want the homes they were promised or, alternatively, a complete refund with interest if the project cannot be completed within the newly announced deadline.
As uncertainty continues to surround the future of the project, the beneficiaries have warned that they may be compelled to pursue legal action if the latest assurance is not fulfilled.
For now, nearly 1,000 families remain caught between hope and disappointment, waiting for the realization of what was once promoted as the Prime Minister’s dream housing project in Tripura.
