After Tripura, the Assam government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is looking to provide its excess electricity to Bangladesh via Tripura. The two Chief Ministers discussed this during Sarma’s visit to Tripura, where they also talked about various state-related matters. Tripura has been supplying electricity to Bangladesh since 2016, and they are considering extending the existing agreement beyond its March expiry.
Assam Chief Minister Sarma expressed his willingness to share surplus electricity with Bangladesh through Tripura, as discussed with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha. Additionally, they deliberated on the need to widen the National Highway connecting the two states for better transportation of goods and passengers. The narrow highway at Churaibari poses significant challenges for vehicle movement between Tripura and Assam.
Churaibari, a crucial entry point to Tripura located near the Assam border, faces severe traffic congestion due to the narrow National Highway. Tripura, which shares a long border with Bangladesh, currently supplies over 100 MW of electricity to its neighbor. The state began supplying power in 2016 from the ONGC Tripura Power Company plant, with the supply sometimes reaching up to 160 MW.
The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited official mentioned that Bangladesh has requested an increased supply of at least 250 MW of electricity. However, a final decision on this proposal is pending. Tripura is also exploring the possibility of supplying electricity to Nepal, despite not sharing a direct border. The state is investing in new technologies to enhance power generation efficiency and is planning significant power projects to meet the growing demand.
