Tourist cottages for two places

TT, Siliguri, Jan. 19: Minister Gautam Deb today said the state tourism and north Bengal development departments would jointly build cottages for tourists in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri.

The North Bengal development minister, who held a meeting with officials of different districts in the region at Uttarkanya here today, said: "We intend to develop accommodations for visitors in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri as new attractions like the North Bengal Wild Animals Park and the mega tourism hub at Gazoldoba are coming up. As of now, two sites have been selected where cottages for tourists will come up. These are Bengdubi in Siliguri subdivision and Jubilee Park in Jalpaiguri town. We are preparing the project reports."

He said a fountain would be set up at Bairagidighi, a waterbody, in Cooch Behar town at an expense of Rs 5 crore and a parking plaza in Malda.

"There is a vacant plot next to the Englishbazar municipality office. The parking plaza will accommodate around 200 cars. It can largely help in reducing traffic congestion in Malda town," he said.

Deb said chief minister Mamata Banerjee would inaugurate "Mati Sathi," a four-storied library at Himanchal Bihar in Matigara near here on January 21.