May 05, 2018: The Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb called on Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad today in his office chamber at Shashtri Bhawan, New Delhi.
During this meeting Biplab Deb discussed several issues relating to the development of Information Technology sector in Tripura so as to make Agartala a future IT Hub of the North East India.
On setting up of 3rd Software Technology Park in Agartala, Deb said, already two number of small Software Technology Parks have been established by Software Technology Park of India (STPI) in Agartala- one at Lichubagan and the other at Indranagar, Agartala. However the space available for IT professionals in these two IT Parks is highly insufficient. Deb requested the Union Minister to direct Software Technology Park of India (STPI) to set up another state of art Software Technology Park in Agartala for which he has proposed to provide 1.4 acre of land in Gurkhabasti Agartala near Aranya Bhawan.
The Chief Minister of Tripura informed the Ravi Shankar Prasad that there were many IT professionals from Tripura who were working in various cities like Banglore and Pune etc and want to return back to Tripura. However they do not have proper facilities in Agartala or Tripura. Also he explained that Agartala being situated on the International Internet Gateway coming from Cox- Bazar, Bangladesh along with reliable air connectivity with all the major cities of India and availability of trained IT manpower etc, is the ideal place in the entire North East to be the future Information Technology Hub.
Biplab Deb proposed that this Software Technology Park building may be a high rise, modern, energy efficient and magnificent building so as to create maximum possible space for IT Companies and IT Professionals and also the said building may be recognized as symbol and icon of Agartala in future. The Union Minister assured to take necessary action in this regard.
Regarding implementation of “Wi-Fi Chaupal Project” in Tripura, Deb said, already CSC E- Governance Services India Limited has submitted a proposal to the Government of Tripura to undertake “Wi-Fi Chaupal Project” in 1178 Gram Panchayats of Tripura to provide last mile internet connectivity in rural areas for establishment of network of Common Service Centers (CSCs) with an estimated cost of Rs. 34.98 Crore. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to look into the matter for sanction of the said project on urgent basis. Ravi Shankar Prasad assured to take necessary action in this regard.