Agartala Light House Project Takes Major Leap : CM Manik Saha Inaugurates Blocks A and F, Hands Over Keys to 278 Beneficiary Families
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, October 30, 2026
In a major step towards fulfilling the dream of permanent housing for economically weaker and low-income families, Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on Thursday inaugurated Blocks 'A' and 'F' of the ambitious Agartala Light House Project at Akhaura Road, near the India-Bangladesh international border. With the completion of the two residential blocks, a total of 278 flats have been made ready for beneficiaries, marking a significant milestone in the implementation of the state's flagship affordable housing initiative.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister symbolically handed over keys of newly constructed flats to several beneficiary families, opening a new chapter in their lives. Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal attended the programme virtually.
The Agartala Light House Project is being implemented under the Central Government's Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India), an ambitious initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs aimed at introducing modern, sustainable, cost-effective and disaster-resilient construction technologies in India's housing sector.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Manik Saha said that ensuring safe and permanent housing for economically weaker and low-income families remained one of the major commitments of the state government. He emphasised that a permanent concrete house is not merely a physical shelter but also provides security, dignity, self-confidence and a foundation for a better future for an entire family.
He said the Light House Project was playing an important role in making modern and quality housing accessible to ordinary people, who otherwise might find it difficult to afford such facilities even in major cities.
The Chief Minister informed that the Agartala project envisages the construction of approximately 1,000 residential flats across seven multi-storeyed blocks. Each flat has a carpet area of approximately 30 square metres, equivalent to around 320 square feet. The total estimated project cost stands at Rs 162.50 crore.
Highlighting the progress of the project, Saha said that the inauguration of Blocks A and F represented an important phase in the expansion of modern and affordable housing facilities in Agartala. He expressed confidence that the construction of the remaining blocks would be expedited and completed within the stipulated timeframe so that the flats could be handed over to the eligible beneficiaries without further delay.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that the project had encountered several administrative and financial complications during different stages of implementation. Particularly, certain technical difficulties relating to piling work, which had not been adequately incorporated into the original Detailed Project Report, had affected its progress. However, with the cooperation and intervention of Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal and other concerned authorities, the difficulties were gradually resolved, paving the way for the completion and inauguration of the two blocks.
Expressing gratitude to the Union Minister for his cooperation, the Chief Minister said the Central Government's support had been instrumental in overcoming the hurdles and taking the project forward.
The Agartala Light House Project is among six such innovative housing projects selected across the country under the Global Housing Technology Challenge. The other locations include Ranchi, Lucknow, Indore, Rajkot and Chennai. The initiative seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of advanced construction technologies and encourage their wider adoption in India's affordable housing sector.
One of the most significant features of the Agartala project is its use of Light Gauge Steel Framed (LGSF) technology combined with a Pre-Engineered Steel Structural System. The construction method uses factory-manufactured steel components and modern building materials to ensure faster construction, durability, structural strength and resource efficiency.
The technology is particularly relevant for Tripura, which falls within a seismically sensitive region. The adoption of modern engineering methods is intended to provide safer and more resilient residential structures while reducing construction time and improving overall quality.
Apart from residential facilities, the project also incorporates essential social infrastructure to create a planned and self-sufficient residential neighbourhood. Facilities include a community centre, an Anganwadi centre, a healthcare centre, water supply arrangements and other necessary civic amenities. Provisions for solar-powered lighting and rainwater harvesting are also part of the project's sustainable infrastructure approach.
The Chief Minister stressed that the success of a planned residential complex would depend not only on the quality of buildings but also on cleanliness, a healthy environment, civic discipline and social harmony. He appealed to the beneficiary families to work collectively towards maintaining the residential premises and developing the complex into a clean, attractive and liveable neighbourhood.
Referring to the broader development scenario in Tripura, Saha said the present government had been prioritising the improvement of law and order, economic growth, per capita income and the creation of an investment-friendly environment. He claimed that the state had gradually moved away from its earlier negative image and was emerging as a peaceful and stable destination for entrepreneurs and investors from different parts of the country and abroad.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said the Light House Project was initiated in 2019 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of introducing advanced construction technologies into India's housing sector. The objective is to promote modern, sustainable, disaster-resilient and cost-effective housing solutions through innovative engineering methods.
He described the Agartala project as an important component of this national initiative and said that the use of modern construction technologies would help transform the country's affordable housing landscape.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of providing essential civic facilities alongside residential infrastructure so that beneficiary families could enjoy a better quality of life.
Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Milind Ramteke, delivered the welcome address and highlighted different aspects of the project and its infrastructure development. Agartala Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mihir Kanti Ghosh, Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, Chief Minister's Secretary Kiran Gitte, BMTPC Executive Director Arvind Kumar and other senior officials and dignitaries were present at the programme.
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