Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha emphasized the crucial role of engineers in the state’s and nation’s progress while addressing the 58th Engineers’ Day celebration at Pragya Bhavan in Agartala. On this occasion, he also announced that telecom giant Airtel will establish a data center in Tripura, the first in the Eastern Zone.
The Chief Minister extended greetings to engineers and paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. M. Visvesvaraya, whose remarkable contributions in water resource management earned him the highest civilian honor. He highlighted that Engineers’ Day serves as a reminder of the importance of engineering expertise in advancing the nation.
Saha noted that Tripura is home to several prestigious institutions, including the Tripura Institute of Technology, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), and other engineering colleges, all contributing to building skilled human resources.
Emphasizing the indispensable role of engineers, the Chief Minister said, “Without engineers, it is not possible to move forward. From bridges and roads to digital systems, engineers are the backbone of infrastructure development.” He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and explained that Tripura has also laid out its own roadmap toward “Viksit Tripura 2047,” where the state currently ranks fifth nationally in progress.
Highlighting the government’s focus on infrastructure, Saha mentioned that about ₹7,000 crore has been allocated in the budget for the sector. He called upon engineers to take responsibility for ensuring accuracy and efficiency in implementing projects. “With technological advancement, responsibilities have increased. From e-offices at the cabinet level to block and panchayat levels, engineering innovations are transforming governance in Tripura,” he added.
The Chief Minister also drew attention to the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, noting that Tripura has around 2.1 lakh entrepreneurs in the MSME sector. In this context, he announced that Airtel is building a data center in the state, a first for the Eastern Zone. He expressed confidence that the project would enhance digital infrastructure and create opportunities for growth in multiple sectors, including healthcare through drones and artificial intelligence.
Calling upon engineers to innovate further, Saha urged them to use local resources effectively to improve people’s livelihoods, raise per capita income, and boost the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). He emphasized that the future of Tripura lies in sustainable infrastructure backed by strong engineering expertise.
The event was attended by Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, NIT Director Prof. Sharat Kumar Patra, PWD Secretary Kiran Gitte, Rural Development Department Secretary Abhishek Singh, Institute of Engineers Chairman Parmananda Sarkar Banerjee, PWD Chief Engineer Rajib Debbarma, and representatives from various engineering organizations.
The celebration of Engineers’ Day 2025 in Tripura thus highlighted not only the achievements of the engineering community but also new opportunities for digital and infrastructural growth with the upcoming Airtel data center.