Agartala, Jan 16: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that Assam is keen to supply its surplus electricity to Bangladesh, signalling a possible expansion of cross-border power cooperation in the Northeast.
Speaking to reporters, Saha said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had conveyed his willingness to route excess power from Assam to Bangladesh through Tripura.
“Since 2016, Tripura has been supplying electricity to Bangladesh. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this arrangement will expire in March this year, and we are considering extending its tenure,” Saha said.
Tripura currently exports power generated by the state-owned ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) plant in Gomati district. The supply stands at 100 MW, but at times has gone up to 160 MW, according to officials of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL).
“After the initial agreement in 2016, the power supply pact with Bangladesh has already been renewed twice,” a TSECL official said.
Beyond energy cooperation, the Tripura CM said he also raised concerns over infrastructure bottlenecks with his Assam counterpart, particularly the narrow stretch of National Highway linking the two states. Referring to a recent visit to Churaibari in North Tripura along the Assam border, Saha said the existing highway severely hampers the movement of goods-laden trucks, passenger buses and other vehicles.
“This is a vital corridor for inter-state trade and connectivity. Widening the highway is essential for smoother and safer movement,” he added.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who arrived in Agartala on Thursday for a two-day visit, held wide-ranging discussions with Saha during a dinner meeting at the Tripura Chief Minister’s official residence, focusing on power sharing, connectivity and broader inter-state cooperation.
