Govt bolsters infrastructure in bid to boost tourism in Murshidabad, Malda

Kolkata: In a bid to attract more tourists to the historical places of Murshidabad and Malda, the state Tourism department has taken up major infrastructural development in both the districts.

The department has taken steps to upgrade the existing tourist lodges in the districts into three-star category holiday homes. There are also plans

to build up connectivity between all the tourist places in Murshidabad through waterways.

Houseboats will also be introduced in Murshidabad. This tourism circuit has been named as a 'place of historical importance'.

State Tourism minister Goutam Deb recently held a high level meeting with the senior administrative officials. He also took stock of the ongoing works for setting up the tourism circuit, covering all the places of historical importance in Murshidabad. He also visited various historical places in the district to monitor their condition.

It may be mentioned here that the state government has already announced tourism circuits in Bengal, covering the places having historical significance across the state.

The minister had earlier announced that his department will develop a tourism circuit covering places in Murshidabad and Malda, where there are so many historical places.

The tourism circuit will also cover Plassey in Nadia district, where the British had won a decisive battle in 1757 over the Nawab of Bengal and historical sites of Hazar Duari and Lal Bagh in Murshidabad.

The circuit will also cover Adina Mosque and Buddhist Stupa in Malda and Motijheel in Murshidabad. The senior administrative officials in the districts have been asked to monitor the project. Various fairs will also be organised in the districts to attract more tourists.

Another tourism sector is being developed at Bishnupur in Bankura, which is famous for terracotta temples belonging to the 17th and 18th centuries and Mukutmanipur, where the second biggest earth dam of the country is located.

It may also be mentioned here that various degree and diploma courses on tourism would be introduced in educational institutions. Skill development programmes would also be started in various districts.

During the Left front regime, the budget allotment for the tourism sector remained at Rs 40 crore, but during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee government, the figure has gone up to Rs 275 crore, the minister said.