Chopper service for Durga Puja revellers in Tripura

The Tripura government will operate a helicopter service for Durga Puja revellers and sightseers to enable them to get an aerial view of tourist spots and puja celebrations in Agartala, a minister said here on Friday.

The chopper service, run by state-owned Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC), will be a 30-minute trip for each sortie in and around the state's capital city.

For sightseeing and witnessing Durga Puja, the per head fare for an adult is Rs 1,500 and for children below 12 years it is Rs 1,300, Tripura Transport Minister Manik Dey told IANS.

He said: "The joy rides would be conducted in eight-seater double-engine choppers of Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. The rides would be conducted for four days from October 8."

The government has subsidised the fare.

Dey, who also holds the power portfolio, said that to maintain uninterrupted electricity supply during the puja period, Mizoram would provide 20 MW of power to Tripura.

"Despite huge demand of power (300 MW) during Durga Puja festivity, Tripura would maintain supply of 100 MW of power to Bangladesh as this is the national commitment," he added.

Director General of Tripura Police K. Nagaraj said vigil along the India-Bangladesh border and in trouble torn areas has been tightened with the deployment of additional Border Security Force and other central and state security personnel.

Paramilitary forces Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with Tripura State Rifles, have intensified their counter-insurgency operations in the terrorist-prone and hilly areas of the northeastern state to foil any attempt at disturbing the festivities, the police chief added.

CCTVs and metal detectors have been installed near the puja pandals (marquees) and other sensitive locations while over 7,500 security personnel and quick reaction teams besides bomb and dog squads have been deployed across Tripura.

Police pickets have been set up in important and strategic locations and mobile and foot patrolling has been initiated along with intelligence networks.

"In view of the escalation of border troubles along India-Pakistan boundaries, extra alertness is set in motion during the Durga Puja festival. However,there is no specific security threat yet," Nagaraj said.

According to the DGP, maintaining last year's numbers, around 2,510 community and about 100 family Durga Pujas, including 1,495 in rural and interior areas, are being organised in Tripura.

--IANS

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