In an effort to bolster the tourism sector in Tripura, the State government will inaugurate the ‘Weekend Tourist Hub’ at the iconic Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala on July 30. The announcement was made by Sushanta Chowdhury, the Minister for Transport and Tourism, during a press conference on Friday.
The Ujjayanta Palace, also known as Nuyungma, showcases the rich history of Tripura, including its royal dynasty, traditions, arts, and culture through an array of stone sculptures, coins, and other historically significant artefacts.
In recent times, the palace, situated in the heart of the capital city, has witnessed a substantial influx of tourists and locals, particularly youths, especially during the evening hours.
“The ‘Weekend Tourist Hub’ aims to position Tripura as a priority destination for global tourists. It will be open every Saturday and Sunday, from 4 pm to 9 pm during the summer and from 3 pm to 8 pm in the winter,” said Chowdhury.
He further elaborated, “During the ‘Weekend Tourist Hub,’ the area stretching from Sherowalli Sweets to Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan and Jackson Gate Traffic Point will be designated as a ‘No Vehicle Zone.’ The District Magistrate of West Tripura district has already issued a notification to this effect.”
The ‘Weekend Tourist Hub’ is expected to provide the people of Agartala city with a new destination for leisure and entertainment. The hub will offer various amenities to attract visitors, including well-equipped mobile food stalls, paddle boating in Ujjayanta Palace’s Radha Sagar, photo counters in the garden area of the State Museum for traditional costume and ornament photography, a 365-day open Ujjayanta Palace, an evening light and sound show, and captivating cultural programs for visitors’ enjoyment.
Regarding security measures, Chowdhury assured, “Adequate numbers of women and men police personnel will be deployed, and watch towers and CCTV coverage will be set up for monitoring. Additionally, police patrolling in plain clothes will be conducted to ensure the safety of tourists.”
The launch of the ‘Weekend Tourist Hub’ is expected to not only generate revenue for the state government but also create employment opportunities for the unemployed youth. The state government is actively working on promoting tourism as an alternative source of income for the state.
To highlight Tripura as a world-class tourist destination, the Department of Tourism has embarked on a multifaceted program targeting tourists from both within the country and abroad. The state government has also appointed former cricket captain Sourav Ganguly as the brand ambassador for state tourism.
The central government has extended its support for the development of tourism in the state, focusing on infrastructural improvements to enhance the appeal of various tourist spots. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is currently evaluating a tender worth Rs 586 crores for development works in Amar Sagar and Fatik Sagar in the Chitramura area and Amarpur city.
Furthermore, a tender of Rs 63.72 crore has been invited for the creation of multi-purpose facilities for tourists at Sonamukhi tea garden in Kailashar of Unakoti district, which will also include the construction of an adventure park for tourist entertainment. Additionally, the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for the infrastructural development of Chatudasa Devata Mandir, Kamalasagar Kali Mandir, and Niramhal under ADB funds is currently underway.
Minister Chowdhury announced that the central government has granted approval for the construction of modern infrastructure at various tourist centers under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 project, with an allocated budget of Rs 140 crore. As part of this project, the construction of eight log huts at Narkelkunja island in Dumboor has been completed and is expected to be opened to tourists in the coming days, providing a total of 23 log huts at Narkelkunja.
During the press conference, Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation, Dipak Majumder, and Director of Tourism Department, Tapan Kumar Das, were also present to support and discuss the upcoming tourism initiatives in the state.
