AGARTALA, December 18 (TIWN): The work for retrofitting of Neermahal is well in progress. The authorities found work progress well beyond target in a recent assessment. The project for repairing and making Neermahal earthquake resistant is expected to be completed within the estimated target of June, 2015, said Tourism Secretary Mr. Ashutosh Jindal.
Taking to TIWN, Tourism Secretary Ashutosh Jindal today said that a 7 Km ring­road is being constructed around Lake Rudrasagar, the water body encircling the water palace. The road would add to the existing communication infrastructure in the area, adding to facilities to attract tourists at Neermahal.

Tripura earlier retrofitted the Ujjayanta Palace at Agartala as a part of its continued effort to conserve historical monuments of the state, Jindal added.

According to statistical records, the state had nearly double inbound tourists in 2013­2014 compared to the previous year. 7,817 foreign tourists visited the state in 2012­2013. The figures rose to 15,376 in the last financial year.

The state, however, failed to register significant growth in domestic tourist sector as the figures of domestic tourists visiting Tripura in the last financial year was 3,59,995, barely 1,370 above the previous financial year.

Tripura’s last princely ruler, King Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya (1923-1947) had built Neer Mahal in 1930 as his summer residence. With an aquatic area of 364 acres, it is among India’s national lakes, located 55km from Agartala. Originally with an area of 816 hectares, Rudrasagar has now shrunk because of encroachment, misuse and setting up of two brick kilns in the complex, in violation of norms set by the state pollution control board.

Rudrasagar was declared the country’s 13th national lake in 1993. The erstwhile royal summer resort Neer Mahal presents a fine blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture and within its length of 400 metres, the palace has 24 rooms, besides provisions for private quarters, or andarmahal, for the king, his family and retinue of servants. It also has a dance room and an assembly hall where the king would meet the people. The tracts of green fields on the edge of the lake come alive with birdsong during the annual arrival of migratory birds.