AGARTALA, July 10 (TIWN): Its a well known fact that communist leaders in Bengal and Tripura traditionally didn't prefer to see their state economically progressed, also infamous for blind opposition to Industrialization, IT, Employment generation in the name of 'capitalism'. From Jyoti Basu to Manik Sarkar- every CPM Chief Minister did their best not to develop State’s Industry, IT, not to boost economy with the sole aim to produce unemployed youths which in turn act as cheap supply to party’s cadre base. Sitting next to Manik Sarkar, Ratan Tata stressed upon the need of natural resource based industrialization to boost Tripura's economy. “Everybody’s view will be to take those natural resources and process them outside in which industry will add value and receive benefit of that value in other places but our view will be to see what we can bring to Tripura. To transform the gas and other natural resources in this state, add value, gain reputation, brand and serve other states of India or rest of the world. And that is a promise I made to the Chef Minister and I will come back,” said Ratan Tata. To contain heavy traffic in northeast India and Tripura air sector, Tata Trust promised to explore the possibilities of expansion of airlines in this sector. Tata assured that his company will not be exploitative, and stand as partner to see prosperity of the state as well as the nation.

Tata Trust on Thursday evening signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tripura Government launching their strategic partnership with an objective to implement interventions in the thematic areas of diary development, skill development, education, nutrition and health, for improvement in the quality of life of the households in state Tripura.

At the meantime when the land-locked Tripura has been demanding for operation of more flights in this sector Tata Trusts Chairman Ratan Tata on Thursday interacting with the newsmen here at civil secretariat conference hall indicated that there is a need to contain heavy traffic in this air sector.

“When I was travelling to Tripura I had found heavy traffics in this air line sector which needs to be contained,” adding Ratan Tata said, “In regard of expansion of air line in this sector we need to study the viability and then we will decide the Air Asia services in this sector.”

However it is worthy to mention here that for the last couple of years Tripura Government has been demanding to increase the operation of airlines in the Agartala sector.

More than eight lakh people travel from Agartala to Guwahati, Imphal, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad every year. Air traffic has been heavy because of lack of other means of transport.

Despite Tripura Left front Government had reduced the value-added tax (VAT) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) by four percent previous year, state has lost the tendency of frequent air travel from the Agartala airport planned to be extended and make international standard.

As compared to the year 2012, air transportation has declined that for last 2 years the tendency remains  same; this year even after several persuasions to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.  

During the year 2014 the figure of the total air passengers rested at 9 lakhs which increased compared to the year 2013. Recently the Jet air company has withdrawn its flights from Tripura region and other parts of the North Eastern region except Guwahati.

However, on yet another hectic agreement Left front government finally got to have TATA Trusts here which have a keen interest to invest in socio-economic development sector.