Agartala, Oct 11 (IANS / TIWN) The first instalment of Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Rs 1,650 crore loan for infrastructure development in seven of the eight district headquarter towns in Tripura, has been approved, an official release said on Friday.

"The Department of Economic Affairs, under the Finance Ministry of the Indian government has approved the first instalment of Rs 17.75 crore ($2.5 million) of the ADB loan to take up development of seven district headquarters (except West Tripura District Headquarters and state capital city Agartala) through Urban Development Department of the state government," the release said.

The release said that the first instalment of Rs 17.75 crore would be spent mainly for conducting engineering survey, preparing estimates and DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) for roads, water supply, drainage, sewerage and major urban infrastructure works in these seven district towns.