Agartala, Oct 10: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday inaugurated the Rs 33.08 crore Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) College Lake Rejuvenation Project, a flagship initiative funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Agartala Smart City Mission.
Agartala Smart City Ltd CEO Shailesh Kumar Yadav said the project, launched in 2023, has transformed a once-degraded and crime-prone zone into a vibrant 31-acre green public space, now the largest of its kind in Tripura. “Earlier, anti-social activities were rampant, and even murder cases were reported near the lake. Today, it stands as a safe and family-friendly recreational hub,” Yadav said.
The rejuvenated lake area now features seating zones, walking tracks, yoga areas, and water sports facilities, along with 60 CCTV cameras connected to the Integrated Command and Control Centre for round-the-clock security. Entry is regulated through valid passes, and ecological measures have been taken to attract migratory birds while protecting the lake’s natural resources.
Urban Development Department Secretary and Agartala Smart City Ltd Chairman Abhishek Singh highlighted that the complex includes a 3-km walking circuit and over 70,000 new plants, improving local air quality and biodiversity. He added that other Smart City projects, such as the Haora River Front Development, are also progressing.
Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder noted that 25 deserted ponds have been rejuvenated at a cost of Rs 106 crore.
Chief Minister Saha described the project as a model of sustainable urban rejuvenation, combining ecological preservation, recreation, and employment generation. “The MBB College Lake Project will make Agartala cleaner, greener, and more liveable,” he said.
Tripura BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee also attended the inauguration ceremony.
