AGARTALA, Jan 21 - Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb today said a lot remained to be done to address the developmental challenges, but efforts were on to make Tripura a model State.
On the occasion of Tripura�s 48th Statehood Day, Deb said his Government would strive hard to make the State economically self-reliant.
�Tripura had attained Statehood on January 21, 1972, but we are yet to fulfil many aspirations of the people. We strive to make Tripura a model State in the country in terms of development,� Deb said on the occasion.
Since the BJP-IPFT combine came to power 23 months ago, revenue collections have increased 26 per cent from 8.9 per cent, the State achieved 100 per cent electrification and eradicated malaria, Deb said, enlisting his Government�s accomplishments.
The State, in an attempt to ensure transparency, introduced the e-tendering system for procuring goods and services and distributed LPG cylinders to at least 91 per cent of the households as part of the Centre�s Ujjwala Yojana, the Chief Minister claimed.
Deb also said that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 8,000 crore for widening of national highways in the State, the work for which is under way.
�Tripura now has access to the Chittagong port in Bangladesh. The Government is constructing a four-lane bridge over the Feni river in Sabroom subdivision, which will reduce the distance between the State and the Chittagong port to just about 70 km,� he stated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier in the day, greeted the people of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura on their Statehood Day and hailed the traditions and culture of the three North East States. On this day in 1972, all three became full-fledged States under the North Eastern Region (Reorganisation) Act, 1971. � PTI