The Tripura government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL) to build a luxury hotel, Taj Pushpabanta Palace, at the historic Pushpabanta Palace, despite opposition from tribal youth groups and political parties, including BJP ally Tipra Motha. The agreement, signed by government officials and IHCL representatives, involves an investment of Rs 250 crore to develop a five-star hotel with around 100 rooms. Chief Minister Manik Saha emphasized the project will boost tourism, create 200 direct jobs, and preserve the Manikya dynasty’s heritage, despite calls for preserving the palace instead of converting it into a hotel.
Guwahati:
In spite of resistance from tribal youth organizations, opposition parties, and even Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, the chief of the BJP ally Tipra Motha, the Tripura government has formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL), a subsidiary of the Tata Group, to construct a luxury hotel at the historical Pushpabanta Palace.
The agreement was finalized on Friday, with Kiran Gitte, secretary of industries and commerce, signing on behalf of the Tripura government, while Jayanta Das, area director and general manager of IHCL, represented the company. The signing occurred at the Tripura Institution for Transformation, attended by Chief Minister Manik Saha, Industry Minister Santana Chakma, and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury.
According to the MoU, IHCL will create a five-star palace hotel, Taj Pushpabanta Palace, which will feature about 100 rooms under the Taj Palace brand with an investment of Rs 250 crore. Most accommodations will be situated outside the heritage structure, with a selection of signature suites preserved within the palace to maintain its royal appeal.
Mr. Saha referred to the MoU as a groundbreaking achievement, stressing that this marks the first collaboration between IHCL and a government to create a royal heritage hotel.
He mentioned that the project aligns with Tripura’s vision for modernization, will create 200 direct jobs and numerous indirect ones, enhance tourism, and protect the heritage of the Manikya dynasty.
He noted that all concerns regarding the palace’s transformation into a hotel were thoroughly discussed and addressed prior to the MoU’s finalization.
The Pushpabanta Palace, also referred to as Kunjaban Palace, was constructed in 1917 by Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya. Following Tripura’s merger with India, it served as the Governor’s residence until 2018.
The palace was originally envisioned as a national-level digital cultural museum, with the foundation stone laid by President Droupadi Murmu in October 2022.
Opposition parties, including the CPI(M) and Congress, have advocated for the preservation of the heritage rather than its conversion into a hotel.
Nevertheless, Mr. Saha emphasized that the project would establish Tripura as a premier global tourism destination while protecting its historical legacy.