Agartala, May 21: The Tripura government on Tuesday signed a lease agreement with the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) for the development of the state’s first Taj-branded luxury hotel — the ‘Taj Pushpabanta Palace Hotel’ — in Agartala. The project aims to transform the historic Pushpabanta Palace into a world-class heritage hotel.
Built in 1917 by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Deb Barman Bahadur, the Pushpabanta Palace is a symbol of Tripura’s royal legacy. Under this new initiative, the palace will be restored and repurposed to include reception and public areas, while additional facilities like 100 luxury rooms, a banquet hall for state functions, wellness centres, a fitness club, swimming pool, and kids’ play areas will be added to the property.
The lease, signed for an initial term of 60 years with a provision for automatic renewal for another 30 years, marks a major step forward in Tripura’s tourism development.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who attended the signing ceremony at the TIFT War Room in Agartala, expressed optimism about the project. “This will open up new tourism avenues and highlight the royal legacy of Tripura. Visitors will be drawn not only to the hotel but also to the state’s many attractions,” he said.
Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury called the development a “new beginning” for the people of Tripura, praising the Chief Minister’s commitment to the project. He also emphasized the employment potential it holds for local youth.
Officials present included IHCL Area Director Jayanta Das and top state bureaucrats. The Memorandum of Understanding had earlier been approved by the Tripura Cabinet and formally signed on March 14 this year.
The project is expected to be completed within two years.
