AGARTALA, Feb 26 - Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb today inaugurated the 38th edition of the Agartala Book Fair at the International Fair Ground in Hapania.
Addressing the large gathering at the inaugural function, Deb asserted that Tripura has witnessed a lot of positive changes during the past two years, which will pave the way for it to become a model State in the next three years.
Tripura will have access to the Chittagong Port, he stated. A Special Economic Zone has been approved at Sabroom, which will bring a positive change to the State�s economy, the Chief Minister said, adding that the Indo-Bangladesh inland waterway connecting Gomati and Meghna (Bangladesh) has been declared a protocol route.
Highlighting his Government�s achievements, Deb said the State�s connectivity would get a major boost in the next three years with the Centre mulling to invest Rs 8,000 crore for national highway development.
The Chief Minister said that the Government is also working hard to address the unemployment problem in the State. �The number of unemployment youths has declined from 7 lakh to 1.77 lakh after introduction of the National Career Service. The unemployment rate has also declined to 4.5 per cent. These are all indications of positive change,� he claimed.
Deb revealed that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told him that her country would acquire new aircraft to boost air connectivity. �She promised me that a flight would be introduced on the Dhaka-Agartala route for the benefit of people of both countries,� he said.
The Chief Minister also took a pot shot at critics who had opposed shifting of the book fair venue from the capital town to Badharghat. �An intense controversy had erupted over the shifting of the book fair venue. Today�s gathering proves that the critics were wrong,� he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma, Revenue Minister NC Debbarma, Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath and Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dr Prafullajit Singha were also present on the occasion.
