Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: Conservation crews are now working to restore the historic rock-cut sculptures and carvings at Unakoti. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat confirmed the progress in a July 21, 2026, letter to West Tripura MP Biplab Kumar Deb. The project also includes building a new cafeteria to boost visitor amenities at the ancient Shaivite site.
Deb raised these concerns during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on July 30, 2025. He believes these upgrades will cement the site as a premier international tourism destination. The Minister acknowledged the request but denied the demand to move the Archaeological Survey of India circle office from Aizawl to Agartala. Citing strict budgetary constraints, the Minister noted, "Considering the limited resources available with the Archaeological Survey of India, it is not feasible at present to shift the Circle Office from Aizawl to Agartala."
All centrally protected monuments in the state remain under the Aizawl circle. Sub-circle offices located in Udaipur and Kailashahar manage the ongoing development work. The Ministry revealed a point of friction regarding past project finance. Officials previously sent funds to the Tripura government for work outside the protected zone, but the state government diverted that money for other tasks. The state has not yet offered a public reply to these claims.
Comments