Royal-era Jackson Gate to be rebuilt, says Chief Minister

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 19, 2025

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday announced that the state government will reconstruct the historic Jackson Gate in Agartala, a royal-era structure demolished during the Left Front regime. Built in 1927 to commemorate the visit of Bengal Governor Sir Francis Stanley Jackson for the coronation of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya, the gateway once stood as a marker of Tripura’s princely heritage.

Maharaja Bir Bikram, grandfather of Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, is credited with shaping modern Agartala through his architectural vision. The Jackson Gate, however, was torn down during the tenure of former Chief Minister Nripen Chakraborty, reportedly to facilitate road widening. Critics have long viewed the demolition as an attempt to undermine the legacy of the royal era.

Addressing a party joining event at Takarjala, Dr Saha accused previous governments of erasing historical symbols and said he had directed officials to rebuild the gate in its original form. Senior journalist Sekhar Datta noted that the CPI(M) had ideologically regarded princely rule as feudal and misaligned with public aspirations.

Dr Saha rejected claims that the state government was depriving the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council of funds, stating that nearly 40 per cent of the development budget is being spent in tribal areas. He said the reconstruction of Jackson Gate would help restore an important chapter of the state’s heritage.

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