Bengal seeks Rs 75 cr for tourist circuit development

The West Bengal Tourism department has sought Rs 75 crore from the Union ministry of tourism for developing tourist circuits, focused on boosting the infrastructure framework.

Speaking to Business Standard, T V N Rao, managing director of West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited, pointed out, “In order to boost tourism infrastructure in the state, the West Bengal tourism department has proposed four major circuit development projects. Another nine projects are in the pipeline which is expected to be proposed within the next two months. We expect most of it to be sanctioned by the union ministry.”

The four major circuits' development project which have been proposed are Western Dooars tourism circuit worth Rs 8.99 crore, Ahiran Villa worth Rs 8.04 crore, Kandi-Behrampore tourism circuit worth Rs 8.01 crore, Islampur-Lalbagh-Jiagunj Circuit worth Rs 8.34 lakh.

On the pipeline were Purulia circuit project worth Rs 8 crore, Gateway to North Bengal project worth Rs 5 crore, Malda circuit project worth Rs 8 crore, North 24 Parganas project worth Rs 8 crore, illumination of heritage monuments in Kolkata worth Rs 5 crore and Maithon tourism development project worth Rs 5 crore, informed Rao.

These circuit destination development project entails building signages, interpretation centers, illumination of monuments and historical sites, public amenities facilities, information centres, lodges, last mile connectivity and so on.

Meanwhile, work on the ambitious Rs 22 crore Ganga Heritage River Cruise project has began. "Work in four locations is expected to begin later this month. Tenders for four destinations- Behrampore-Lalbagh, Plassey, Barrackpore and Jiagunj have been floated, work orders have been issued. We expect work to start this month. Tenders for the remaining eight more destinations will be floated soon,"informed Rao.

The Ganga Heritage River Cruise project is a showcase project of the state tourism department which will promote all the heritage sites on both the sides of the Ganga and river tourism.

This includes setting up exclusive jetties for river tourist in the selected destination, setting up tourist lodges, tourist amenities and other facilities.

It has been sanctioned Rs 22 crore by the Union ministry of tourism.

This apart, the state tourism department has also identified some sites in every district, which they planned to use for tourism projects either independently or in PPP mode.

Birbhum and Bankura were two of the most important sites both of which have immense potential in village and heritage tourism. Some of the other places are Jalpaiguri, the two 24 Parganas, Digha and Mandarmoni.