Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has urged the central government to raise the annual cap on externally aided projects from Rs 4,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore, saying the present limit hinders large infrastructure works in smaller states. He repeated the demand at a government event in Bardowali and during the last plenary session of the North Eastern Council in Shillong in the presence of the Union Finance Minister. The amounts involved equal Rs 40 billion (Rs 40 bn) and Rs 100 billion (Rs 100 bn) respectively, and the report defines billion (bn) and million (mn) for subsequent references.\n\nSaha outlined that massive infrastructure building has been under way across the state, citing implementation of the Smart City Mission, the Lighthouse project, measures to strengthen the power sector and urban amenity improvements. He portrayed these initiatives as part of a sustained push by the state administration to accelerate development and meet public expectations. The account framed recent activity as evidence that higher project caps would enable execution of larger schemes.\n\nThe chief minister noted that he had inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 1,500 crore in the past year to accelerate infrastructure creation. That sum converts to Rs 15 billion (Rs 15 bn). He said the state had rejuvenated water bodies in Agartala at a cost of Rs 137 crore, or about Rs 1,370 million (Rs 1,370 mn), and had spent Rs 581 crore, or Rs 5,810 million (Rs 5,810 mn), under the Smart City Mission to improve civic amenities.\n\nOfficials also reported growing investor interest, with projects worth Rs 8,000 crore already grounded from investment proposals totalling Rs 15,000 crore received at the previous summit. These figures equate to roughly Rs 80 billion (Rs 80 bn) and Rs 150 billion (Rs 150 bn). The state has set a target of attracting memoranda of understanding worth Rs one lakh crore, equal to Rs 1,000 billion (Rs 1,000 bn), at the Destination Tripura business conclave scheduled to be held on July nine and 10.