With the aim of overall development, the state government is working on a multi-pronged plan to build a better communication system. As a result, there has been a lot of improvement in rail, road and air communication in the state. Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha said this at the review meeting of the Department of Transport in the 2nd meeting room of the Secretariat today. After reviewing the various projects of the Transport Department in the meeting, the Chief Minister said that coordination between the Transport Department and the Defense Department (Traffic) should be developed to prevent road accidents and ensure road safety in the state. In the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the department to seriously look into the issue of affixing number plates on every car and two-wheeler as per the government guidelines.
In the meeting Secretary of Transport Department Uttam Kumar Chakma said that a modern new terminal building has been constructed at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport for the purpose of improving the air communication system of the state. Which was inaugurated on January 4, 2022. He said that there has been a lot of development in the railway communication system in the state in the last 5 years. As a result, where there were only 6 train services in the state in 2018, it has now increased to 15. E-Vehicle Policy has been launched in the state in 2022 for development of green transport system in the state. E-challan system has also been introduced in the state to collect fines from traffic law violators. The secretary said that the Sonamura-Daudkandi route has been declared as the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route for the purpose of developing waterway transport in Gomti river. Union Ministry of Inland Water Transport has sanctioned Rs 24.53 crore for construction of 9 floating jetties and other works on river Gomti. He said that the Driving Training and Research Institute was inaugurated on April 12, 2023, next to the NIT in Zirania. 14 crores have been spent for this. The secretary of the transport department said that the construction of the Agartala-Akhaura railway is going on at a fast pace. The total length of this railway is 12.3 km. Of this, the Indian part has 5.46 km and the Bangladesh part has 6.57 km.
Agartala-Akhaura railway has completed 85 percent of the Indian section and 73 percent of the Bangladesh section. Apart from this, the construction work of rail yard at Nishchintpur has already been completed. The secretary said that the international flight service will be started on the Agartala-Chittagong route from the first week of next June. The Department has taken necessary initiatives for this purpose. The meeting also discussed construction of integrated parking complex at Khoai Puran Bazar, Pecharthal-Dharmannagar-
Also present at the review meeting was Transport Minister Sushant Chowdhury, Head of Revenue Department Secretary Punit Aggarwal, Secretary to Chief Minister Pradeep Chakraborty along with Transport Department Other officials were present.