Tripura CM Manik Saha flags off Agartala-Karimganj MEMU train service
Agartala, July 4
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday flagged off the long-awaited Agartala-Karimganj-Agartala MEMU train service from Agartala Railway Station, providing a major boost to daily commuters travelling between Tripura and Assam.
The new daily train service is expected to benefit thousands of passengers, particularly office-goers, traders and businesspersons who regularly travel between Agartala and Karimganj.
Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, District Magistrate Vishal Kumar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The introduction of the new train service has been welcomed by residents of both Tripura and Assam, who have been awaiting improved rail connectivity for several years.
Earlier, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thurday also held a detailed review meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in New Delhi to discuss the progress of National Highway projects and future road infrastructure development in the State.
The meeting focused on expediting ongoing National Highway projects, strengthening maintenance of existing road infrastructure, and undertaking new projects to improve connectivity within Tripura and with neighbouring States.
In his opening remarks, CM Saha expressed his gratitude to Union Minister Gadkari for the remarkable expansion of the National Highway network in Tripura, which has increased from 198 km in 2014 to 923 km in 2026.
During the meeting, Saha raised and discussed several important decisions for implementation in a time-bound manner.
CM Saha has raised concerns about the alignment for the 4-laning of the Churaibari-Champaknagar stretch of NH-08 (130 km), which has been approved by the Ministry in consultation with the State Government. The proposed greenfield four-lane highway will run parallel to the railway line and include tunnels through the Atharamura and Longtharai ranges. Land acquisition for the project will commence shortly.
Chief Minister also emphasised the need for adequate drainage systems and retaining walls along National Highways to prevent flooding in adjoining habitations and mitigate landslides in hilly areas during the monsoon season.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great news for Northeast connectivity! The increase in NH network from 198 km to 923 km is impressive. But I hope the greenfield highway plan includes proper environmental impact assessment, especially with those tunnels through Atharamura and Longtharai ranges. Development shouldn't come at the cost of our forests.
The CM raising concerns about drainage systems and retaining walls along NH is very practical. Monsoon season in Tripura is brutal, and we've seen too many landslides on the Agartala-Silchar route. Hope the Centre takes this seriously and allocates funds quickly. 🙏
Honestly, while this train service is welcome, we need more such connections. The Northeast still lags behind in rail connectivity compared to the rest of India. The Churaibari-Champaknagar four-laning is long overdue - hope land acquisition doesn't get stuck in legal battles like many other projects.
As someone who lived in Tripura for years, this brings back memories. The old meter-gauge was painfully slow. MEMU trains with better frequency and modern amenities will really help students and office-goers. Kudos to CM Manik Saha for pushing infrastructure development despite the state's challenging terrain. 👏
The mention of tunnels through hilly ranges for the highway is interesting. Hope the engineers use modern tunneling tech to minimize ecological damage. Also, good to see CM Saha raising specific concerns about flooding - that's a real issue in low-lying areas near highways during heavy rains. Practical governance, finally!
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