GTA announces major uplift for Kurseong: IT Park, 200-bed hospital, water reservoirs

The existing but incomplete multi-storied parking lot at Love Road just outside the town will be converted into an IT Park 

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 6, 2024 : With the initiative of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, the subdivision of Kurseong, a part of the Darjeeling district, is set to get a much needed major uplift. It is believed that the Kurseong sub-division has been neglected in the past years. GTA chairman Anit Thapa on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a swanky IT Park in Kurseong town. 

The existing but incomplete multi-storied parking lot at Love Road just outside the town will be converted into an IT Park. The West Bengal Electronic Corporation Limited (Webel), a nodal agency of the Department of Information Technology and Electronics of the West Bengal Government, will build the IT Park, the 27th in the state. 

Thapa said it was prudent and important to be practical and work accordingly for the welfare of the people. 

“My experience tells me that people in the hills never looked at the performance of a political party while voting, but on the emotive issue of Gorkhaland. This way years passed and rendered our place in a state of collapse and the administrative system incompetent and. This is the reason I have pledged to change the existing system and work for the better of the people and the hills," the GTA chairman said. 

Thapa who is also the president of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha and hails from Kurseong said people with vision and intent to actually work for the people should contest elections. 

"The voters are not to be taken for granted. They are conscious and will vote for anyone who works for their welfare. I want such people who can perform to contest elections and win and work for the better of the hills," he said. The IT Park will come up in an area of 150,000 square feet at an estimated cost of Rs.48 crore. The project is expected to be completed within two years.

"The detailed project report has been prepared by a company called Radiant and Webel has sanctioned the fund. Of the total amount, Rs.28 crore has already been sanctioned. Similar IT Parks will also be established at a cost of Rs.68 crore in Kalimpong and Darjeeling," said Thapa.

Once completed, the IT Park in Kurseong will offer food and beverage. It will also have the plug and play module along with the non-plug and play module. The other amenities available will include rooftop futsal ground, badminton court and a rooftop theatre. 

The GTA chairman also announced a project of a 200-bed hospital for the hill town. Speaking about the proposed new hospital, Thapa said: “The present hospital is in existence from the British era. It is in a dilapidated state. At times patients are forced to sleep on the floor because of lack of bed. We are preparing a DPR for a new hospital which will be located below the Kurseong Tourist Lodge. Funds will be allotted later. The present hospital will be converted in to a parking lot". 

Thapa said two water reservoirs, one at Dowhill at a cost of Rs.26 crore and another at Sepoydhura at a cost of Rs.36 crore, would be built to eradicate the drinking water woes of Kurseong town.

Thapa's party is in alliance with the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. When asked about the candidate of BGPM for the Darjeeling seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BGPM president said: “We will have a Gorkha candidate with the symbol of the Trinamool Congress so that votes for the plains and hills will not be divided. Since we are in an alliance with the Trinamool Congress, they will announce the name of the candidate"