The private airline carrier SpiceJet has given the task to start international flight services from Agartala airport to Chittagong airport in Bangladesh and soon the flight services will start operating, said Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury.

Speaking at the review meeting of the Transport department held at Gitanjali guest house on Thursday, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that the department needs modern and fastest facilities to facelift the public transport system.

In order to make the transport facilities more public oriented in accordance with the services available in present days, there is a need for  a concrete roadmap, said Chowdhury.

During the review meeting in presence of all top officials of Transport and other allied departments, the authorities had detailed discussion over the development of the transport system.

He said that the present state government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has taken the initiatives to expand the public transport facilities in every corner of the state. Within next one month, the Tripura Road Transport Company (TRTC) will start pickup bus services and the women passengers will get a 30% subsidy on fares.

He said that three helipads will be constructed at Matabari, Narkelkunja and in Bhangmun and the government has also taken a plan to modernize the existing 52 motor stands across the state.

Chowdhury said that in the last financial year, the Transport department had collected revenue of Rs. 115.64 crore from different sources and the department has fixed the target of Rs. 121.41 crore in the 2023-24 financial year.

During the review meeting, secretary of Transport department Uttam Kumar Chakma through PowerPoint presentation had detailed discussion and present status of air, rail, surface and water transport facilities existing in the state.

He also highlighted the ongoing construction of Agartala-Akhaura rail link, construction of 9 floating terminals, integrated  road accident database, dredging of river Gomati, helicopter services, greenfield airport at Hiracherra, pre-paid auto and taxi services, driving training centre, enforcement drive of the department and bus services by TRTC and Tripura Urban Transport Corporation Limited (TUTCL) etc.