Kurseong under special focus of GTA in terms of developing tourism

EOI, KURSEONG, 13 Sep 2014: Kurseong and its environs appear to have made a special appeal to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration as the council is focusing on introducing various development projects for the benefit of the region.

Kurseong GTA executive member Anit Thapa today told media personnel a 35-bed auditorium fitted with a swimming pool, a conference hall and a badminton court is coming up near the Tourist Lodge just above the Montiviet ground area at a cost of more than Rs20 crore.

Thapa said the fund for the project has already been released by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and once the Puja festivities are over, it will start on a war footing. He added besides the locals, tourists will also benefit greatly from the project.

Again, Thapa said the GTA has also planned to transform the Montiviet ground into a mini-stadium. The Darjeeling Polytechnic Institute, which owns the ground, now falls under the jurisdiction of the GTA, he further informed. Compared to Darjeeling and Kalimpong, there is neither a private nor a government guest house in Kurseong. Hence, the 35-bed auditorium can be considered a valuable present for both locals and tourists alike.

He added apart from these projects, several other development initiatives have been planned by the GTA targeting the Kurseong region. Despite Kurseong being blessed with a plethora of natural beauty, the region is yet to emerge as a tourism destination and is still considered underdeveloped in the field of tourism amid the world-famous tourism destination of the Darjeeling hills. 

Further, to boost the economy of Kurseong by means of garnering tourism revenue, construction work of a ropeway service by the GTA between Giddhay Pahar and Rohini is already on at a cost of crores of rupees, added Thapa.