'State taking steps to boost tourism infra in Sundarbans'

KOLKATA: The Bengal government is making all efforts to improve the tourism infrastructure in the Sundarbans and has solicited the participation of

the private sector in the matter, state Tourism minister Indranil Sen told the Assembly on Thursday.

During the question hour, Sen, in his reply to a query, said the government, with the engagement of the private sector, is planning to set up eco-friendly hotels and entertainment arenas around the mangrove forest.

The state, since the Trinamool Congress's (TMC's) rise to power in 2011, has introduced some package tours from the city to the Sundarbans using two tourism department vessels that ferry them to the jungles

and back.

Sen said the government was also weighing the possibilities of starting houseboat services in the next six months in several large water bodies, much like the ones in Kashmir.