Agartala: The Tripura government is prioritising the development of the 148 km Kamalpur to Santirbazar Road as a national highway, according to Chief Engineer of National Highways, P Jamatia. This move aims to boost socio-economic activities in tribal regions and reduce travel distances.
Currently, Tripura has six national highways spanning 923.31 km, with the Centre agreeing ‘in principle’ to develop four more national highways in the state. The proposed Kamalpur-Santirbazar road will be a game-changer for tribal habitations in Dhalai, Gomati, and South Tripura districts, reducing travel distance from Ambassa to Sabroom from 300 km to 200 km.
The proposed national highway will also connect several tourist spots, including Dumbur, Narikel Kunja, and Chhabimura, before reaching Sabroom, the state’s southernmost border subdivision. Sabroom has already been developed as a gateway to South East Asia, with the Centre constructing Maitri Setu, an integrated check post, and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,000 crore, and the government is awaiting Centre’s sanction to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR). Once approved, the DPR is expected to be prepared within six months.