Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced on Sunday that he has formally requested Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to increase the state’s allocation for externally aided projects to a minimum of ₹10,000 crore. This move is intended to significantly boost the pace of development activities within the state.
During a party event in Agartala, Chief Minister Saha highlighted a disparity, noting that while mainland states do not face such a ceiling, northeastern states are capped at ₹3,000 crore for these projects. He conveyed his plea to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a recent visit to Delhi, urging either the removal of this ceiling or its substantial increase to ₹10,000 crore to facilitate Tripura’s developmental goals.
The Finance Minister has reportedly asked the Chief Minister to have the state’s finance secretary meet with central government counterparts to further discuss the matter.
Chief Minister Saha also provided an update on the state’s progress in infrastructure development and public welfare initiatives. He stated that the state’s annual budget has seen a rise from ₹27,000 crore in the 2024-25 fiscal year to ₹32,000 crore for 2025-26, with ₹7,000 crore specifically earmarked for capital expenditure.
Regarding employee welfare, Saha mentioned that the government is working to bridge the Dearness Allowance (DA) gap with central government employees. He noted that while 29% DA has been released over his 29-month tenure, a 22% gap still remains.
Furthermore, steps are being taken to fill vacant government positions. Over the past seven years, more than 20,000 regular government posts have been filled, and an additional 6,000 contractual positions have been created. The government aims to complete the recruitment process for all vacant posts as soon as possible.