Agartala, Sept 22: A new public space has taken shape in the heart of Agartala with the inauguration of the Haora Riverfront Development Project on Tuesday, as Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said the initiative would add a new dimension to the city’s urban landscape while strengthening efforts to protect the Haora River.

Inaugurating the project, Dr. Saha said the riverfront was conceived not merely as an urban beautification initiative but as a step towards creating a more accessible, recreational and citizen-friendly environment in the state capital.

The Chief Minister also virtually inaugurated the newly developed Airport Road under the Agartala Smart City Mission and laid the foundation stone for a marriage hall intended to provide an affordable facility for economically weaker sections within the Agartala Municipal Corporation area.

Speaking at the programme, Dr. Saha underlined the historical and cultural significance of the Haora River to Agartala.

“The Haora River carries the heritage and history of Agartala. The riverfront project has been developed with the twin objective of protecting the river and creating citizen-friendly facilities in the heart of the city,” he said.

Developed under the Agartala Smart City Mission at an estimated cost of around Rs 96 crore, the project extends for nearly 1,700 metres between Steel Bridge and Dashamighat.

According to the Chief Minister, the riverfront has been planned to cater to people across age groups, with spaces and facilities intended for recreation and leisure.

He said the project would contribute to the overall transformation and beautification of Agartala while creating a new public destination for residents.

A five-year operation and maintenance mechanism has also been incorporated into the project, with the required expenditure included within the overall project cost, the Chief Minister said.

Dr. Saha noted that projects of this scale and nature have been undertaken only in a limited number of locations in the country and said Agartala had now joined that group with the development of its own riverfront.

He also acknowledged the role of the Smart City Mission in facilitating major urban infrastructure projects in Agartala and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing the city under the mission.

Referring to the transformation of the area, the Chief Minister said parts of the riverfront had previously become associated with anti-social activities. The development has now converted the area into a more organised and public-oriented space, he said.

The project, he added, is also expected to strengthen the banks of the Haora River and help address erosion-related concerns. He stressed that possibilities for extending the riverfront development should also be explored in the future.

“Every day, the government is thinking of new ways to provide better services to the people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working not only for infrastructure development but also for the socio-economic development of the people. The Tripura government is also working in the same direction,” Dr. Saha said.

Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder described the inauguration as an important occasion in the city’s development and said the project would mark a new phase in Agartala’s urban transformation.

Calling the Haora River the “soul of Agartala”, Majumder said the corporation was undertaking several initiatives aimed at improving the river and its surrounding areas.

He said the city’s urban management systems were being upgraded in response to changing needs and that various measures were being taken to improve civic amenities and meet public expectations.

The Mayor also highlighted efforts to address traffic congestion and pollution in Agartala.

With Durga Puja approaching, Majumder said the administration and civic authorities were working in coordination to ensure a safe and convenient festive season for residents and visitors. He further assured that ongoing road repair works would be completed before the Puja celebrations.

A blood donation camp was also organised as part of the inauguration programme.

Earlier, Dr. Saha, accompanied by other dignitaries, visited the newly developed riverfront and inspected the facilities created under the project.

Deputy Mayor Monika Das Dutta, MLA Meena Rani Sarkar, Chief Minister’s Secretary Kiran Gitte, Urban Development Secretary Milind Ramteke, Agartala Smart City Mission CEO G.S. Naik, Municipal Commissioner Saju Wahid and senior officials were present at the programme.