AGARTALA, July 1 (TIWN): Admitting that the road connectivity here in Tripura has turned worst, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Tuesday claimed, “There is an urgent need to develop the road connectivity between the Tripura and the neighbouring Bangladesh in order to bring a boon for the North eastern states.” Adding to that Sarkar demanded the central government to eye on the development of the telecommunication system with the Bangladesh. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for further improvement in relations with Bangladesh for better connectivity and development of the state.Sarkar was addressing the foundation stone laying in ceremony here at Agartala Amtali in presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.“Prior to partition, Tripura was seamlessly connected to India through Bangladesh by road, rail and waterways which need to be restored. There is an urgent need for transit and transshipment facility through Bangladesh", Sarkar said.CM also drew Gadkari’s attention to the poor and unsatisfactory telecom services in the region and demanded latest equipment and technology and alternate telecom routing to Tripura through Bangladesh. Sarkar said, “If the the two giant river of the state – Howrah and the Gomati river can be connected with the neighbouring country Bangladesh than it would some way or other bring a boon for the people of state.”

Sarkar in presence of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari slammed the UPA-II government. Sarkar said, “The UPA-II government earlier promised to convert the exisiting National Highways roads here in Tripura into 4-lane but after the passage of two years the government had again stressed to make it double-lane standard.”

However, it is worthy to mention here that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday after arriving at the state had laid the foundation stone for the double-lane construction work from Agartala to Sabroom. Laying the foundation stone here at Agartala Amtali Union Minister Nitin Gadkari declared that the road connecting Sabroom with Kukital and Teliamura to Sabroom via Amarpur would be brought under the National Highway project.

According to the official, the Centre has already sanctioned fund to face lift the Agartala-Sabroom via Udaipur road which has tagged with NH-44.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury and Principal Secretary, PWD Lok Ranjan remained present in the foundation stone laying programme on Tuesday.