MoS Pratima Bhowmik review progress of Smart City Projects, holistic measure for beautification of Agartala city

The Agartala Smart City Mission on Tuesday conducted the meeting of the City Level Advisory Forum, chaired by Union Minister of state Pratima Bhowmik and reviewed the progress of the smart city projects. The meeting also detailed discussion over the initiatives taken by the Agartala Smart City Limited (ASCL), which is gradually gaining momentum for the beautiful Agartala city.

Speaking in the meeting Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik said that entire construction works under the smart city projects are going on in the fastest way. She said that within the next two months two main roads including Airport and Akhaura roads will be completed and added that soon Agartala city will be among the beautiful cities of the country.

While, giving details of the progress of the works constructed by the ASCL, the chief executive officer (CEO) of ASCL and commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav said that the meeting had detailed discussion to review the completed works, on-going works and future plans of ASCL. The meeting has also shared the detailed information over funds sanctioned from both central and state governments and about a clear picture over the utilization of funds.

He said that till date a total Rs. 372 crore received including Rs. 294 crores has been received from Central government and Rs. 78 crore from state government and till date the ASCL has completed construction works of Rs. 342 crore.

A total of 66 projects have been taken for Agartala smart city mission and among these projects, the construction works of 49 projects have already been completed and now 17 projects are going on.

Among these projects, the big projects including Airport Road project (Cost of Rs. 91 crore) and by the end of January, 2023 next , the ASCL will complete the four lane road , said Dr Yadav and added that another project financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) at Ujjayanta palace including beautification and construction of Asia’s longest fountain along with nine components including beautification of gardens with laser light project.

In MBB College Lake, a big project is under going on and to reduce the inundated problems of Agartala city, five new pumps were installed, 30 kilometers of storm-water drain constructed and monitoring systems from integrated command control station have also been set up, said Dr Yadav.

He said ASCL has been appreciated by different national media for the measures taken to reduce the inundated problems of the city and added more measures including six mobile diesel pumps has been installed in the city to reduce the water logging problems along with five static pumps.

Dr Yadav said that many parks and lakes inside the Agartala city have been beautified including the Albert Ekka war memorial, which was appreciated by the President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to Agartala.

Among major projects taken by ASCL, Howrah river front project and a stretch of 2 kilometers riverfront site like Savarmati riverfront will be set up and people of the city can enjoy their cycling, running in the complete two km stretch. He said that river water and sewerage systems near the riverfront site will be cleared along with strengthening of the embankment boundary.

The citizen level advisory forum has also given their suggestion and ASCL has also accepted their proposals, because no projects will be sustainable without public support, which is the aim of ASCL to create awareness.