Sights set on footfall surge

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, 13 Oct 2018, Siliguri: Come Saturday and tourists will start reaching north Bengal and neighbouring Sikkim for a Puja peak season that will extend to Diwali.

The region has decked up for tourists, right from the hills to the plains. While in Chowrasta, Durga Puja celebrations have begun and people are swarming in to indulge in festivities, the cottages in "Bhorer Alo," the tourism hub in Gazoldoba on the bank of Teesta, the newest destination, is beckoning travellers.

The cottages ­ five are available for tourists ­ are available at a price of Rs 2,500 per night.

Added to the prominent destinations and sights where tourists would flock during the holidays, the tourism department, in association with North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC), has come up with some new tours and trips ahead of the puja holidays this time.

"We will conduct three puja package trips. It will be a one-day trip and would be conducted in Siliguri on October 18 and in Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri on October 16," state tourism minister Gautam Deb said here on Friday.

As tourists will start flow- ing in from Saturday, the tourism department has also planned to run five helpdesks at major junctions in the Dooars and at the principal entry points to north Bengal.

The desks will come up at Tenzing Norgey Central Bus Terminus in Siliguri, at Bagdogra Airport and New Jalpaiguri station and in Malbazar and Chalsa at the Dooars.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, during her visits in A tourist cottage at Gazoldoba. (Passang Yolmo) north Bengal, had insisted that such accommodations should be set up in hills to create a source of employment for locals and also come up with new options for tourists.

"Around 400-odd homestay owners have already collected forms and want to avail the benefits. Half of the amount would be borne by the state, while the remaining has to be borne by the concerned beneficiary," said Deb.