Bengal govt to build bridge to connect Gajoldoba with Siliguri

Pritesh Basu | MP | 18 April 2018 | Kolkata: In a bid to ensure better connectivity for Gajoldoba Tourist Hub, the state government has taken up a major step to construct a bridge that will directly connect the place with Siliguri.

Moreover, with construction of the bridge, a direct connection with National Highway 31 from Siliguri, will also come into existence.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her visit to North Bengal in early 2018, had directed the concerned authorities to take necessary steps for development of infrastructure, to ensure that Gajoldoba comes up as another major tourist hub in the region.

To ensure an overall development of the region and specially to turn Gajoldoba into an international standard tourism spot, the state government is leaving no stones unturned.

According to a senior official of the state PWD, there is a barrage at Gajoldoba and at present, one has to take the road on the barrage, to reach the tourist spot. But the necessity of direct road connectivity was felt for development of the place as a famous tourist spot and it prompted the state government to take the step of constructing the bridge.

There is a canal that runs from the barrage to the Teesta river. The bridge will be constructed across the canal. Though the bridge will not be too long in length, it will be quite crucial in terms of establishing a connection between the two districts of Siliguri and Jalpaiguri, as the canal runs between the two in that stretch.

Besides constructing the bridge, a road of around 7 kilometre length will also be constructed from the bridge in the Jalpaiguri side up to Otlabari, where it will connect with National Highway 31.

So, vehicles from Siliguri will get an alternate and much shorter route for reaching the national highway, with construction of the bridge and the road.

It may be mentioned that a project has been taken up to construct around 30 cottages at Gajoldoba for tourists. The construction of the cottages has started and work is going on in full swing to complete the same.

Some of the cottages are already complete. There are also plans to develop an orchid hub, golf course and a helipad in the area as well.