Tripura’s Chief Minister, Manik Saha, marked a significant advancement in the state’s educational landscape on Tuesday with the inauguration of WiFi facilities in 11 government general degree colleges. This pivotal move is expected to profoundly boost digital education across Tripura.
Officials confirmed that with this latest launch, every general degree college throughout the state now benefits from robust WiFi connectivity. Furthermore, ambitious plans are in motion to extend this essential service to five polytechnic institutes, ensuring even wider access to digital resources.
The initial phase of this extensive project, which commenced in October of the previous year, successfully brought 19 colleges online with a high-speed 100 Mbps backbone network. The recently concluded second phase meticulously equipped the remaining 11 colleges, each featuring approximately 20 wireless access points to guarantee comprehensive campus-wide coverage.
Representing a substantial investment of Rs 12.32 crore, this initiative delivers dependable internet access to students, faculty, and staff alike. It signifies a major leap forward in modernizing higher education and equipping the state’s youth for the digital age.
During the inauguration event, Chief Minister Saha highlighted that this initiative goes beyond simply bridging the digital divide. It actively fosters collaboration, sparks innovation, and cultivates digital literacy among students, aligning perfectly with the state’s overarching vision to seamlessly integrate technology with education.
Addressing the press, Saha also announced that the government would provide financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to college students, enabling them to purchase mobile phones under the Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana (MYYY). This program, initially restricted to final-year students, will now be expanded to include first and second-year students as well, further bolstering digital learning opportunities.
Adding to the state’s digital infrastructure, Saha revealed that land has been allocated to Bharti Airtel on the outskirts of Agartala for the establishment of a new data center. Bharti Airtel is set to invest a substantial Rs 200 crore into this project, reinforcing Tripura’s commitment to digital advancement.
Also in attendance at the significant event were Finance and IT Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman, and Industries and IT Secretary Kiran Gitte.