Agartala, Sep 23 (IANS) The central government has allocated Rs. 26 billion for infrastructure development of two cities in the northeast.

The financial grant by the urban development ministry is meant for Agartala and Kohima, the capital cities of Tripura and Nagaland respectively.

"Under the City Development Plan (CDP), improvement of road connectivity and sewerage system, drinking water supply facilities, parking lots, solid waste management and development of heritage buildings would be taken up," Dibakar Chakraborty, Tripura's urban development department commissioner, said Friday.

Tripura's share is Rs.16 billion.

"The two state governments would have to sign Memorandum of Understanding with the union Urban Development Ministry and send Detailed Project Report (DPR)," Chakraborty said.

All the eight capital cities of the northeastern region have been brought under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission programme aimed at improving basic infrastructure and public amenities in the region.

"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest $264 million in the capitals of five northeastern states to boost economic growth, reduce poverty and develop urban infrastructure," said Agartala Municipal Council chairman Sankar Das.

This will be part of a $377.1 million project - in which the central government will contribute $113.1 million - for Agartala, Aizawl, Gangtok, Kohima and Shillong.

"The project aims to develop roads, drainage systems, water supply facilities, sanitation, solid waste management, transportation, landslip protection and slum area development", Das said. The project is expected to be commissioned by 2012.