Agartala Tea Auction Centre Set to Become Reality as Tea Board India Begins Preparatory Process, High-Level Meeting Held in Kolkata

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 2, 2026

In a significant development for Tripura's tea sector, the Tea Board of India (TBI) has initiated the process for establishing a Tea Auction Centre in Agartala, a long-awaited project expected to transform tea marketing in the state and across the North-East. A high-level preparatory meeting was recently held at the Tea Board headquarters in Kolkata to finalize the roadmap for launching the auction centre.

The meeting was attended by Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) Chairman Samir Ghosh, Managing Director Rajesh Kumar Das, and senior officials of the Tea Board of India, including Deputy Chairman C Murugan, IAS. The discussions focused on the operational framework and preparations required before the commencement of the Agartala Tea Auction Centre.

Following the meeting, TTDC Chairman Samir Ranjan Ghosh shared with media that he was felicitated by the Tea Board's Deputy Chairman during the preparatory discussions. Describing the recognition as an honour, he said it reflected the collective efforts of tea growers, plantation workers and all stakeholders associated with the tea industry in the North-East.

According to Ghosh, the proposed Agartala Tea Auction Centre will usher in a new era for the region's tea sector by ensuring greater transparency in tea trading, improved price discovery for growers, and enhanced national visibility for Tripura's tea. He expressed confidence that the auction centre would create better marketing opportunities and strengthen the overall tea ecosystem of the region.

He also thanked Tea Board India and Deputy Chairman C Murugan for supporting the initiative and believing in the vision of building a stronger and more vibrant tea industry in the North-East.

The establishment of a tea auction centre in Agartala has long been demanded by tea producers and industry stakeholders. At present, tea produced in Tripura is largely marketed through auction centres located outside the state, resulting in additional transportation costs and logistical challenges for growers and tea manufacturers.

Industry observers believe that a dedicated auction centre in Agartala will significantly reduce marketing costs, improve access to buyers, encourage competitive bidding, and enhance the profitability of tea estates and small tea growers. It is also expected to strengthen Tripura's position as one of the emerging tea-producing states in India and promote the state's tea in national and international markets.

The proposed auction centre is likely to benefit thousands of people directly and indirectly associated with the tea industry while contributing to the economic growth of Tripura and the broader North-Eastern region. With the Tea Board of India now formally initiating the process, stakeholders are optimistic that the Agartala Tea Auction Centre will soon become operational, opening a new chapter in the development of the state's tea industry.

Notably, Tripura has emerged as one of India's important tea-producing states, ranking fifth in the country and producing around 9 million kilograms of tea annually. The state's tea industry began in 1916 under Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya, making it unique as one of the few tea industries in India established through Indian initiative rather than British planters. Known primarily for its strong CTC black tea, Tripura is now also expanding into premium orthodox, green, and white tea varieties, with its distinctive indigenous tea gaining increasing recognition in domestic and international markets.

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