Agartala: The Centre has sanctioned two projects worth Rs 48 crore to boost tourism in Tripura, minister for tourism Pranajit Singha Roy said here on Wednesday.

The projects were approved in a meeting of North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, an inter-ministerial body under DoNER ministry, in New Delhi last week, Singha Roy told reporters.

"We had sent two project proposals. They examined both and approved a sanction of Rs 48 crore," Singha Roy said. The funds will be used to develop an 8km stretch of road from Fatiksagar in Amarpur to Chabimura in Gomati district, 80km from here, and a 20km stretch of road from Tirthamukh in Gomati district to Raishyabari in Dhalai district.

Chabimura or Devatamura is famous for its rock carvings, dating back to the 15-16 centuries AD, on the hills on the bank of the Gomati. The place is also a famous eco-tourism centre.

Tirthamukh, where the Raima and Sarma rivers meet, is considered a holy spot. It is an extension of a dam built for Dumbur hydro-electric power plant commissioned in 1976.