Even as the Covid 19 pandemic has done its part to bring all the development oriented projects to a standstill, state government is leaving no stone unturned to complete big ticket projects like Sabroom’s SEZ and “Maitri Setu”. Highly placed official sources said, both the projects have greater importance as far as the strategic growth of the state is concerned. And, these two projects are now being given superior priority as the Covid 19 has already dealt a big blow in speedy completion.
However, as of now, the “Maitri Setu”--being built over Feni River that will enable Tripura to access Chittagong port located 70 Km away from Sabroom, is almost in the verge of completion. Sources said, this project has been scheduled to be completed by December 2020 as per the latest ultimatum served to the construction company. On the other hand, the highly ambitious SEZ (Special Economic Zone) is in the pre-initial stage. The land accusation has completed and the next step, land development will begin from next week, said sources.
Sabroom MLA Shankar Roy, the man who is toiling day and night to see his own constituency flourish as an economic pivot of the state. Speaking on the issue, he said, “the Covid 19 has played the spoilsport otherwise the situation of our Sabroom would have looked quite different. However, we are now looking forward to the bright future. Despite being hit by the pandemic, there is no compromise with the work. We are working relentlessly to complete the desired work by the next one year”.
On the SEZ he said, after Feni Bridge SEZ comes as the second most important project right now. A little over 16 hectare of land has been earmarked for the project and now the land development is being initiated. Since the land is already acquired by the Industries department, now the main job is to give it a marketable appearance, he added.
He also said, in September next a team of Industrialists will meet Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and then may come over here to see land for purchase. The team has been invited by the government to avail the facilities of SEZ here in Sabroom. From next week, land development of the entire SEZ area will be initiated and it will run until mid September, he added.
According to him, an additional 200 acre plot has been also allotted in East Lodhua. “If further expansion of SEZ takes place, additional land is required. The East Lodhua plot is allotted for that. Next week, land development work will also begin there”, said the MLA.
Apart from that, he said, initiatives have been put on place to start transborder bus service. “We have allotted 10 acre of land for the bus terminal and 31 acre of land for the truck terminal. Since, we will have an easy route to Bangladesh. We have decided to begin bus services to Cox Bazar and Chittagong”, said Roy.
Roy said that talks were also on with the Railways to develop good yards in Sabroom railway station. “Since Sabroom railway station is the longest railway station of the North East area with a length of 2,800 metres, there are ample scopes to develop a goods yard or goods station here. As connectivity gets expanded, Industrial setups will be built here, railways will never run into losses. We have forwarded a proposal in connection with that through the Transport department of Tripura”, said the MLA.
On the progress of Maitri Setu, he said, “December is the last deadline. We are expecting to see Sabroom with a new face next winter".
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