New Delhi, July 1: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari held a comprehensive review meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting focused on assessing the progress of National Highway projects and discussing future road infrastructure development in the state.
A senior official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated that the discussions included expediting ongoing National Highway projects, improving the maintenance of existing road infrastructure, and initiating new projects to enhance connectivity within Tripura and with neighboring states.
Chief Minister Saha, who also oversees the Public Works Department (PWD), expressed gratitude to Minister Gadkari for the remarkable expansion of the National Highway network in Tripura, which has grown from 198 km in 2014 to 923 km in 2026.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister addressed several key issues and urged their implementation within the stipulated timelines. He mentioned that the alignment for the 130 km stretch of NH-8 from Churaibari (near the Assam border) to Champaknagar has been approved by the ministry after consultations with the state government.
The proposed Greenfield four-lane highway will run parallel to the railway line and will include tunnels passing through the Atharamura and Longtharai hill ranges. Land acquisition for this ambitious project is expected to commence soon.
The Chief Minister informed that the state government will hand over more than 90 percent of the required land for the remaining stretch of NH-8 from Ranirbazar to ISBT (Chandrapur) by August 2026 and complete utility shifting work. Following this, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will issue tenders for construction.
Saha also noted that given the significant increase in traffic volume, tourism, and pilgrimage activities, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for upgrading the Agartala-Udaipur stretch of NH-8 to four lanes is in its final stages. The alignment is expected to be finalized by August 2026, after which land acquisition will begin.
He further mentioned that the DPR for upgrading the 24 km Udaipur-Amarpur road, as part of NH-8, is nearly complete. This road will be constructed to National Highway standards, significantly improving connectivity between Udaipur, home to the famous Tripura Sundari Temple, and Amarpur, which serves as an entry point to major tourist attractions like Chabimura and Dumbur Lake.
The Chief Minister indicated that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will also undertake the development of the 148 km Kamalpur-Ambasa-Gandacherra-Shantirbazar road, which is strategically important for tourism, trade, and natural gas-based economic activities in the region.
Saha announced that a new tender will be issued for the proposed 25 km Western Bypass of Agartala, which will include service lanes due to the densely populated areas along the route. He stated that the work to upgrade the 10 km Eastern Bypass connecting Lembucherra and Khairpur to four lanes will commence after the route is finalized and land acquisition is completed.
The meeting also reviewed the condition of several existing National Highways. Given the poor state of NH-108B from Agartala to Khowai, NH-208 from Kumarghat to Kailashahar, and the Kailashahar-Khowai sections of NH-208A, it was decided that these roads will be reconstructed following the recommendations of the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for proper drainage systems and retaining walls along National Highways to prevent flooding in surrounding settlements during the monsoon and to mitigate landslides in hilly areas.
It was reported that the Assam government has been contacted to widen the Kurti Bridge-Chandkhira section of NH-208A from the current seven-meter carriageway to ten meters.
The Tripura government assured the ministry of its full cooperation in timely completing land acquisition, obtaining forest department approvals, and utility shifting for all approved National Highway projects.
The meeting was attended by V. Umashankar, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Krishna Kumar, Managing Director of NHIDCL, Kiran Gitte, Secretary of the Tripura Public Works Department, Chief Engineer (National Highway) Subrata Banik, and other senior officials.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Chief Minister Manik Saha thanked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for approving a record number of National Highway projects in Tripura, including the prestigious Agartala Ring Road project. He noted that these projects have significantly strengthened the state’s road infrastructure and boosted investment, economic development, and regional connectivity.
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