India: Tripura Urban and Tourism Development Project

Transport / Urban roads and traffic management

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban policy, institutional and capacity development

The PRF will support the state government in holistic planning by developing priority infrastructure investment projects with requisite institutional and/or sector reform actions to be implemented with the infrastructure projects to support economic development of the state.

The outcomes of the PRF are (i) urban infrastructure and amenities of identified urban areas improved to acceptable standards and coverage; (ii) integrated tourism infrastructure, marketing, and promotion strategies to promote tourism enhanced; (iii) technical, procurement, and financial capacities of agencies for preparing and undertaking ensuing project works, and empowerment of local communities strengthened; and (iv) sector and institutional reform actions initiated.

Tripura is a landlocked state in northeast India. It is bordered by Bangladesh to the west, north, and south; and by the Indian states of Assam to the northeast and Mizoram to the east. Tripura is primarily agrarian, with about half of the population dependent on agriculture and related activities, while less than 30% of land is cultivable. The economy is characterized by a high poverty rate, low per-capita income, inadequate infrastructure, high unemployment, and significant impacts from disasters triggered by natural hazards. The economy which depends mainly on central assistance, needs to transition from the agriculture to industrial and service, for which planned growth and development of urban areas is a prerequisite. The state also has significant potential for tourism, which can enhance economic growth.

Inadequate urban infrastructure and low institutional capacity of urban local bodies (ULBs) have impeded the economic growth in the main towns of Tripura. Of 20 ULBs in Tripura, six serve as district headquarter towns (DHTs) and one DHT is served by a village council, while the remaining 13 serve other towns. Coverage of basic infrastructure in all ULBs is limited and cannot support urbanization-led growth.

Tripura has beautiful natural landscape and archaeological, cultural, and built heritage. Tourism growth has been hindered by inadequate infrastructure, and unorganized and unplanned activities. South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation has recognized the need to promote the subregion as a unique tourism destination. Recognizing this potential, the state has adopted the Tripura Tourism Policy 202025 in 2020, and added tourism as a part of 'thrust sector industries.

The proposed PRF consists of consulting services only. Two-PDMC consulting firms (urban and tourism) and five (5)-individual consultants for institutional support, are envisaged under the PRF.

Two-consulting firms, as project design and management consultants (PDMC), (i) for urban sector projects (PDMC-Urban) and (ii) tourism sector projects (PDMC-Tourism), to be recruited. Both the PDMC consulting firms will be procured on quality- and cost-based selection (QCBS) method with quality-cost ratio of 80:20, to ensure high quality of technical outputs under PRF assistance. PDMCs will assist in identifying subproject(s); preparation of feasibility studies and detailed project reports; undertaking project procurement risk assessment and preparation of Strategic Procurement Plan, Contract Management Plans, bidding documents, etc.; carry-out institutional reviews, outline requisite reform actions and scope of institutional strengthening component to ensure sustainability of assets, institutional strengthening and capacity building activities, etc.; and also support improving the readiness for ensuing project(s) in line with ADB guidelines.