Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh chaired a district level review meeting in Sepahijala district in Tripura, overseeing a presentation by the district administration on development indicators and governance initiatives. He urged the district administration to explore the State's vast bamboo potential and to scale up utilisation in a structured and commercially viable manner. He noted that expanded value addition and wider market access could enhance trade capacity and generate sustainable livelihoods.

He said the Northeast could develop as a Southeast Asia trade corridor once connectivity improvements are realised, adding that direct rail services between Tripura and Bangladesh would create an easy and cost effective trade route. He recalled that work on the rail link had commenced during his tenure as Governor and that the project had been approved, although progress was presently slower due to the situation in Bangladesh. He emphasised that improved regional connectivity would open the entire Northeast as an important South Asian corridor for trade and business.

The meeting reviewed progress under major rural development schemes, infrastructure projects, and the Jal Jeevan Mission, as well as implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin and health sector indicators such as institutional delivery and immunisation coverage. Officials presented achievements in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and financing for self help groups, and discussed measures to expand market linkages for local producers. The Minister encouraged adoption of value added bamboo products for construction, furniture, handicrafts, interior décor, and jewellery to broaden income sources.

Innovative governance initiatives placed before the Minister included Mission Sankalp to eliminate child marriage and teenage pregnancy, e-Office implementation for paperless administration, QR based feedback systems, and Jan Sunwai for grievance redressal. Proposals on rooftop solarisation, rainwater conservation measures, and capacity building programmes were also discussed to strengthen sustainable development at the local level. The Minister requested continued monitoring and directed the administration to pursue structured bamboo value chains and to leverage transport links to enhance trade opportunities.