29th October, Agartala: Following Chennai, Rajkot, Indore, Ranchi and Lucknow, flats under the Lighthouse Project, featuring multi-storey buildings constructed using modern technology for urban beneficiaries, have been handed over in Agartala.
Today, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha handed over the keys of the flats, constructed on land near the Akhaura Check Post in Agartala, to the beneficiaries at a programme. Union Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal addressed the programme virtually.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha said that several financial and other challenges had arisen during the construction of these buildings. However, following the intervention of Union Minister Manohar Lal, the issues were resolved, and flats in Blocks A and F were handed over in the first phase. The Chief Minister expressed hope that the remaining flats under the Lighthouse Project, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the Urban Housing Scheme, would also be completed soon.
The Chief Minister said that 278 flats were being handed over in the first phase. Each flat has an area of 30 square metres, or 320 square feet. He said every citizen dreams of having a sustainable and permanent home of their own, and the Lighthouse Project would help fulfil that dream.
The Chief Minister said that the state government gives the highest priority to development. He mentioned that he had personally laid the foundation stones for or inaugurated various projects worth Rs. 1,300 crore over the past year. He also stated that efforts were being made to reduce the gap in Dearness Allowance between state and central government employees and to create more government job opportunities.
In his virtual address, Union Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal said that plans to construct these flats using modern technology were undertaken in 2019 under the Global Housing Technology initiative. The Lighthouse Project, envisioned by the Prime Minister, has been implemented in six cities across the country, including Agartala.
Each flat in Agartala cost Rs. 20 lakh, of which the beneficiaries had to pay Rs. 5.40 lakh. The remaining amount is being borne by the Central and State governments.
Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Deepak Majumder was present at the programme. The welcome address was delivered by Milind Ramteke, Secretary of the State Urban Development Department, along with Mihir Kanti Gop, Commissioner of the Tripura Urban Planning and Development Authority, among others. A large number of people attended the programme.
