A day after taking oath, Biplab Kumar Deb-led Tripura government on Saturday decided to rename Agartala Airport after Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur.
Maharaja Bir Bikram was the last reigning king of Tripura and is considered to be a great visionary leader who laid foundation of the state’s modern education and infrastructure.
Reins of power moved on from Manikya monarchs to Union of India through a Merger Agreement that the then regent Maharani Kanchanprabha Devi signed on behalf of the princely state in 1949.
Addressing the media after a meeting of the newly formed council of ministers, who took oath of office and secrecy on Friday, Chief Minister Deb said a proposal would be placed before central government to rename Agartala Airport after Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya.
Royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya welcomed the decision and said it was a welcome move by the state government.
Pradyot thanked Chief Minister Biplab Deb for fulfilling his personal commitment in renaming the airport after the late king and his grandfather.
“I am glad that the airport has been given due respect in the name of my grandfather because he actually a contributed a lot for the state of Tripura but the entire state government’s propaganda was to demonize him .. So I welcome the course correction by Biplab Deb,” said the head of the royal family and grandson of the late King.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also said that an expert committee was formed regarding 7th Pay Commission awards for state government employees.