The Union government through its ‘Act East Policy’ and ‘Neighbourhood first policy’ will render all help to Tripura for speedy implementation of the schemes and projects  related to infrastructure and welfare of the state, said Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region of India (DoNER) G Kishan Reddy

After visiting and reviewing the ongoing Agartala-Akhaura rail link project site at Nishchintapur, Agartala on Tuesday said that the strategic project of Agartala-Akhaura rail link will be inaugurated by 2023 and Centre to help Tripura with all support to speed up development works.

His assurance came after Reddy held a review meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and top state government officials here at the Civil Secretariat.

Almost all the central government-sponsored schemes came up for review at the meeting in presence of the Chief Minister and high officials of the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a goal to make Tripura a developed state and we all are working in that direction, said Reddy after the meeting.

He claimed that Tripura remained neglected for the past 30-40 years and development has not taken place at the expected level and now Tripura is moving forward in all sectors.

The people of the Northeastern states have felt development here in the past five years and more development will come under the guidance of Dr Manik Saha, said the DoNER minister.

The DoNER ministry is responsible for the matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of development schemes and projects in the North Eastern Region.

Reddy said the Centre has been focusing on infrastructure building and welfare activities to create employment and develop the socio-economic condition of the people.

Reddy, who is also the Union Tourism Minister, said plans are going on to organize a global tourism summit in Delhi to attract private investment in the Northeastern state.

The facelift of Tripura Sundari temple in Udaipur is expected to be completed by this year. The facelift work has already gained momentum at the temple, one of the Shakti Peeths, he said.

The Chief Minister said schemes related to healthcare, tourism, national highway and agriculture were mainly discussed at the meeting and the state government  has placed some specific demands for the state and the Union Minister's reply was very positive, Dr Saha said.

While, speaking with media persons at the outside of Nishchintapur railway station near India-Bangladesh border, Reddy said that India is strengthening its relationship with Bangladesh and during the review meeting they have detailed discussion to complete the entire construction works in targeted time and hoped that they project will start functioning by 2023.

There were some hurdles for land acquisition on the Bangladesh side and during a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the resolution has been taken to solve these issues for fastest completion of the entire project financed by DoNER and the Finance ministry of India government.

He said that after completion of the Agartala-Akhaura rail link, trade and tourism will be boosted up in the entire region and with a distance of only 500 kilometers, the people from Agartala will reach Kolkata in only 16 hours of journey time.