Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha Thursday reviewed preparations to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 22 to inaugurate the redeveloped Tripurasundari temple at Udaipur in the Gomati district. CM Saha, accompanied by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Panchayat Minister Kishore Barman, Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, and others, visited the temple. The Palatana OTPC helipad is likely to be used for the arrival of PM Modi. A few days ago, CM Saha said PM Modi is expected to arrive at 3 pm on September 22 and go directly to Matabari for the inauguration. He will offer prayers at the temple and return without addressing any public event, CM Saha said. Earlier, senior officials, including Director General of Police Anurag Dhyankar, as part of supervising possible arrangements for the visit of PM Modi, visited the Gomati district headquarters in Udaipur. Tight security measures are being considered across the state ahead of the PM's visit, according to sources in the state police. The temple, one of the 51 pilgrimage sites dedicated to the Hindu goddess Shakti, was built by the King Maharaja Dhanyavaad Manikya in 1501. In July, CM Saha laid the foundation stone and participated in the bhumi pujan of the 51 Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar in Gomati district. The state government undertook the Rs 97.70-crore project with the Union Ministry of Tourism's financial assistance. "Tripura has implemented different tourism projects worth Rs 350 crore under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme and Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding," Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said earlier after visiting the proposed project site that is located only four km away from the temple. An official from the Tourism Department said the Union Ministry of Tourism approved Rs 97.70 crores to establish the 51 Shakti Peethas Park. "The 51 Shakti Peethas Park will showcase a replica of the Shakti Peethas throughout the Indian subcontinent," said the official.
