Deb reviews tourist hub ahead of CM trip

The Teesta Barrage at Gazoldoba where the mega tourism hub is coming up. File picture

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, Jul 08, 2018, Siliguri: State tourism minister Gautam Deb will hold a review meeting about the ongoing tourism project "Bhorer Alo" at Gazoldoba on Sunday.

The meeting has been planned just ahead of the visit of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who will arrive here next week and is likely to visit the site to check out the progress at the Bengal government's largest tourism project in the state.

"I will visit Gazoldoba and will hold a review meeting on its recent progress. I will also discuss the rehabilitation of 47 roadside shops at the spot. We have decided to make separate kiosks for them at the site so that they can do businesses in an organised manner. We will also beautify the facility by setting up a small garden and will provide water and electricity to all the stall owners," said Deb at Uttarkanya here on Saturday.

Sources in the state tourism department said the minister does not want to take any chances this time and wants to ensure the chief minister does not express displeasure again over the project.

"On May 31 (this year), while the chief minister was attending an administrative review meeting in Kalimpong when she had specifically asked to the minister about the progress of two projects taken up by his department, one at Tiger Hill and the other in Gazoldoba. She had also expressed displeasure over the slow progress of both projects and asked Deb to expedite the task. It seems that the minister does not want to take any chance this time," said a source.

Asked about the status of "Bhorer Alo," the tourism hub in Gazoldoba, Deb said his department, in association with state irrigation and PWD departments, has developed road, electricity and water supply at the site on the bank of the Teesta River.

A youth hostel, an ayurvedic spa, a hospitality management training centre, facilities for elephant ride and an open bird enclosure, resorts of different categories, would also come up at the site.

"Out of four private entrepreneurs who have taken land here, two are working on their projects. They will develop cottages and budget hotels. We are also building a 12km road through for jungle safari that will connect the Bengal Safari Park and Gazoldoba through the Baikunthapur forest," said an official of the department.