Agartala, July 14: Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy on Tuesday said the present state government has significantly strengthened the healthcare sector, while recalling that the previous government had once proposed closing the Tripura Sundari Subdivisional Hospital in Udaipur.
Addressing the inauguration and foundation stone-laying ceremony of several development projects, the minister said he had opposed the move during the previous regime, urging the then Chief Minister to keep the hospital functional as it served thousands of people in the region.
“People should not forget the past. In 2012-13, after the District Hospital was inaugurated, the then government decided to shut down the Tripura Sundari Subdivisional Hospital. During an official programme, I appealed to the then Chief Minister from the dais not to close the hospital, but my request did not receive a positive response,” Singha Roy said.
Expressing satisfaction over the current government’s decision to upgrade the health facility, the minister said Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha has laid the foundation stone for major infrastructure development at the hospital.
He said Rs 43 crore has already been sanctioned for the project, while an estimated Rs 70 crore will be required to transform the hospital into a fully equipped modern healthcare institution. According to the minister, the project reflects the government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to quality medical services.
Singha Roy also highlighted the proposed expansion of the Gomati District Hospital, stating that the Chief Minister has sanctioned over Rs 100 crore for the project and that the tendering process has already begun.
He alleged that although the previous government had constructed hospital buildings, inadequate attention to construction quality resulted in serious structural defects that affected healthcare services. According to him, the damage is so extensive that repairs cannot be undertaken without major reconstruction.
The Finance Minister further said Tripura has witnessed a substantial increase in infrastructure spending over the past eight years. He noted that the state’s annual infrastructure budget has increased from around Rs 3,000 crore during the previous government to nearly Rs 8,000 crore under the current administration.
He said the enhanced investment reflects the government’s continued focus on strengthening public infrastructure and improving essential services across Tripura.
