Agartala, May 20: In a major stride toward boosting tourism in Tripura, a lease agreement was signed between Tata Group's Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and the Tripura government’s Tourism department for the establishment of a luxury hotel at the historic Pushpabanta Palace.
The signing ceremony took place at the War Room of Tripura Institution for Transformation (TIFT).
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury, CM’s Secretary Dr. P.K. Chakraborty, Secretary of Industry and Commerce Kiran Gitte, Tourism Secretary U.K. Chakma, Director of Tourism Prashanta Badal Negi, CM’s OSD Paramananda Sarkar Banerjee, and IHCL Area Director and General Manager Jayanta Das were present at the event.
Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister noted that this is the first time Tata Group has entered into such a partnership with a state government for hotel development.
The upcoming hotel will be constructed across 7.78 acres of the former royal palace, Pushpabanta Palace. The hotel will feature 100 rooms with the touch of royal heritage, including 4 exclusive suites and several signature suites designed to offer a royal experience.
Additional planned amenities include a wellness area, swimming pool, children’s club, fitness centre, banquet hall, and a 600-square-meter convention center with breakout rooms. The project is expected to enhance the upkeep and restoration of the palace, ensuring cleanliness and preservation.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the presence of a Taj hotel will attract both domestic and international tourists, providing a major boost to the state’s tourism industry. The hotel project will also create employment opportunities.
Dr. Saha emphasized the cultural and historical value of the project, stating that tourists will gain insight into Tripura's royal heritage, culture, and history. Alongside their stay at the palace hotel, visitors will also explore tourist destinations in the state, such as the Mata Tripureshwari Temple, Neermahal, and Unakoti.
He recalled that Pushpabanta Palace, built in 1917 by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya, previously served as the Raj Bhavan and had been left unused after a new Raj Bhavan was built. The current state government initiated efforts to put the palace to meaningful use, drawing inspiration from similar luxury hotels in other states.
Retrofitting work on the palace has already commenced to prepare it for the transformation.
Dr. Saha further noted that the development will benefit not just urban areas but also rural regions by encouraging tourist visits beyond the capital.
“This initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ and will contribute toward building ‘Ek Tripura, Shreshtha Tripura’,” he said.
Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury echoed the sentiment, adding that the hotel will not only develop the tourism industry but also open up new avenues for employment. “Such initiatives play a vital role in shaping a better and stronger Tripura,” he said.