`New dawn' hope in Alo tourist hub

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, 04 Oct 2018, Gajoldoba (Jalpaiguri): "Bhorer Alo" (Light of the Dawn), the mega tourist hub and largest such project taken up by the state, is now open.

On Wednesday evening, chief minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the hub and requested private entrepreneurs to invest in the project.

"We have invested Rs 320 crore to build infrastructure. The area is unique for its geographical location and is surrounded by a river, forest and hills. It will attract more and more tourists, who now usually travel to north Bengal to enjoy Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Dooars," the chief minister said after inaugurating first phase of the project.

The site is located in Gazoldoba, on the right bank of the Teesta, around 30km from Siliguri.

The project had started around three years back and earlier this year, while attending an administrative meeting in Kalimpong, Mamata had expressed her displeasure over slow progress of the project.

This made the state tourism department to expedite work of the project. In the first phase, six cottages with landscaping, was done at the site. Some more facilities like boat- ing, jungle safari and cycling will also be introduced for tourists, said the chief minister.

Also, construction of resorts and hotels and a government youth hostel are in progress at the location.

In course of her speech, Mamata also announced that a police station would be set up and an official of the rank of Sub-Divisional Officer would be posted at the tourist hub.

"I would also ask the locals to extend all possible cooperation from their end for fast development of the project. It would also create employment options for their children," said the chief minister.

At the function, she distributed 10 cycles and safety gears to 10 boatmen. The boatmen would be engaged to take tourists on a ride in the Teesta.

Swapna brother job Mamata handed over an appointment letter to Pabitra Burman, the brother of athlete and Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Burman, at Gazoldoba.

Sources said Pabitra has been appointed a tour coordinator under the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation and has been posted at Teesta Paryatak Abas, a lodge that is run by the department in Jalpaiguri.