Gajoldoba cottage boost

The Teesta Barrage at Gajoldoba 

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, Mar 19, 2018, Siliguri: The Bengal tourism minister said on Monday that his department would soon open up cottages for visitors at "Bhorer Alo (Light of the Dawn), the mega tourism hub at Gajoldoba, on the right bank of the Teesta river.

"We will build 30 cottages for tourists at Bhorer Alo in a phase-wise manner. Construction of six such cottages is almost complete and we will shortly open them for tourists," said minister Gautam Deb.

He was speaking to newspersons at Mainak Tourist Lodge here, after paying a visit to Gajoldoba, 30km away, on Monday morning. During his visit, he had held a review meeting with officials of different departments to know the progress of infrastructure development on the site.

The meeting follows a recent inquiry by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, said sources. During her visit last week, she had asked Deb about the progress of the tourism project and instructed him to expedite the work. The sources said Mamata had also asked Deb to hold at least one meeting a month to review the progress.

On the site, Deb said, there was also a plan to set up a helipad and an orchid park, along with a nine-hole golf course.

The project is coming up on a 208-acre plot.

At least 12 state departments are working in an integrated manner - with the tourism department as the nodal agency - to build the infrastructure on the site.

While the irrigation department has been assigned to build internal roads, develop a pond and establish water connection on the site, the PWD has been asked to build a road-over bridge at Ambari - a level crossing on way - and a new road from Lataguri in the Dooars. Also, a police outpost is coming up in the area, along with arrangements for uninterrupted power supply.

"Rs 5 crore has been allotted to the forest department to construct a 12km road that will move through Saraswatipur tea estate and the Baikunthapur forest. The road will connect the Bengal Safari Park and in future, it would be used for jungle and safaris and some other adventure sports," said Deb.

As per the estimate of the state tourism department, around Rs 2,200 crore will be invested for the development of the tourism hub by the state and private players, some of which have already taken land to build accommodations.