The Hindu Business Line : Agartala badly needs a rail link, says Tripura CM

"DEVELOPMENT of the co-operative sector is important for our State's development, and we want to concentrate on agri-based products and allied sectors. But above all, what we need most is a rail link with the rest of India to effectively promote our arts and crafts," according to Mr Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura.

Talking to Business Line here recently, after inaugurating an Agarbatti unit put up by Jayanti Domestic Products Pvt Ltd for exclusive supplies to ITC Ltd, he said Agartala badly needed a rail link, if its economy has to improve. He felt such a link could usher in tremendous trade facilities for the State, which viewed Bangladesh also as a big market.

Asked on the work that was now going on, Mr Sarkar said after RITES conducted a detailed survey, the Prime Minister has declared the project a national one, and work by the North Frontier Railway (NF Railway) was going on in full swing. Asked on the trade front, he said the entire work was now being co-ordinated by the Tripura Industrial Development Corporation.

On the rubber front, he said a Rubber Park was being set up in the State for value-added products. The land for this has already been identified. He said some 27,000 hectares have already been brought under rubber in South West Tripura, and the plan was to cover nearly 1 lakh ha.

Meanwhile, according to informed sources, the Tripura Government was keen to take up a comprehensive sector study for improvement of the State co-operative sector for both economic development as well as creation of employment opportunities with emphasis on the agro and co-operative banking sector. It is learnt that the study may be conducted by Srei Capital Markets Ltd jointly with North Eastern Development Finance Ltd (Nedfi). It is learnt that the Tripura State Co-operative Bank will also participate in the sectoral study.

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