The Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project (TRESP), a World Bank-supported multi-sectoral initiative, is moving ahead with a 2029 completion target, aiming to transform rural connectivity, education, and public service delivery in the state. Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TRESP, Gajendra Verma, said one of the project’s central goals is the construction of over 416 km of all-weather roads to connect rural and tribal areas to markets and essential services. “Out of 416.46 km, we have completed 71.49 km, and work is underway on another 133.41 km. Work orders have also been issued for an additional 133.41 km,”.
More than ₹500 crore out of the ₹1,400-crore project cost has been allocated for strengthening road foundations in rural belts, particularly in tribal regions. The initiative will directly benefit 23 rural development blocks, including 11 ‘aspirational blocks’ identified for targeted improvement. In addition to infrastructure, TRESP is investing in human capital. The project plans to build 12 school buildings in tribal-majority areas, with construction already started on four. All will be equipped to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous students. Teacher training programmes are also in the pipeline to enhance instructional quality across the state.The project is also fostering rural entrepreneurship by forming producer groups (PGs) under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Management (TRLM) framework. So far, 2,000 PGs have been formed out of a target of 2,500.
On the governance front, TRESP aims to develop single-window digital services, accessible via mobile apps and web platforms, to streamline public access to 144 state schemes and services. A firm has been hired to study and recommend IT solutions, including government process re-engineering. The Tripura Space Application Centre (TSAC) will play a key role by engaging a company to integrate dashboard systems for mobile data collection, processing, and visualisation, ensuring better monitoring and planning.
