23.89% increase in tourist footfall in Eco Park during Durga Puja

There has been a 23.89 per cent increase in the turnout at Eco Park known as Prakriti Tirtha in Durga Puja compared to this period last year in 2015.

Prakriti Tirtha, named by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has come up as a major tourist destination over the years. The Eco Park has recorded a footfall of over 58 lakh people since its inauguration on December 29, 2012 by the Chief Minister. Banerjee asked the officials of West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO) to make plans to use the huge water body.

Accordingly Eco park was set up which has 480 acre of land surrounded by 108 acre of water body. 

There are several gardens, a replica of the toy train of Darjeeling and the famous Ghoom railway 

station. A Japanese garden, the replicas of the seven wonders of the world and a craft centre designed by Yogen Chowdhury will be the new additions soon.

To provide the best facilities to thousands of people who visit the tourist spot during winter, particularly on special days like Christmas and New Year, the park authorities are all set to provide a 

seamless experience to the visitors with little or no waiting at the gates.

A multi-windowed glass CC Camera display TV ticket counters with plastic RFID enabled cards will be introduced this year. There are five automatic card operated gates in entry gate I and three each in gates 2, 3 and 4. These gates will open as soon as the RFID car is inserted. This will prevent queues at entry gates.

The Paytm digital wallet has been introduced in each of the ticket counters. This saves time and effort in dealing with changing cash. A water ATM there will also help a visitor get a bottle of filtered water at just Rs 2.

To beef up security, CCTV and public address system have been installed throughout Eco Park. Speakers have been installed that normally play light music but can be used during emergency.

Automatic car parking is there for visitors in areas adjacent to the gates. To help the visitors, New Town Smart City app available in Google play store and Apple I.05 store gives audio guide facility at 

Eco Park.

Café Ekante also named by Mamata Banerjee at Eco Park has become enormously famous and there is also a houseboat restaurant. Playing area for children, open space and lush green landscape have attracted people from all over the state.