Mamata to visit Darjeeling on Sept 3

Darjeeling: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be visiting Darjeeling on September 3. During her visit, she will be laying the foundation stone of the new Greenfield University.

She will also hold a high level review meeting with Gorkhaland

Territorial Administration (GTA) officials. Tourism will be getting a major facelift in the Hills and new tourism projects will be discussed in the review meeting.

"The Chief Minister will be arriving at Darjeeling on September 3. She will lay the foundation stone of Greenfield University on September 5 at a government programme to be held at Darjeeling Chowrasta. On September 4, she will be attending a GTA review meeting," stated Binay Tamang, chairman, GTA Board of Administrators.

The GTA has also requested her to lay the foundation stone of a Chowrasta Beautification project, but is awaiting confirmation from the Chief Minister's office.

The Chowrasta Beautification project, pegged at Rs 12 crore, will be completed in two phases. It will include restrooms for senior citizens, children's park and shops. The part of the road below the Mahakal Temple that has been affected by landslide, will also be repaired.

Tourism is set to get a major facelift in Darjeeling. "Many private players are interested. We have held preliminary talks with them. ITC and Hyatt have shown interest in opening 5 star hotels in Darjeeling. The company that has taken up the Dhotoreah-Kalej Valley Tea Estate, wants to run the tea garden and also come up with a 5 star hotel in the garden. Similarly, the company running Peshok Tea Estate will also run home-stay facilities in the garden," stated Tamang.

Nicco Park of Kolkata has shown interest in running similar parks in the existing Science Centre in Kalimpong at Chowrasta and Nightingale Park in Darjeeling, in Kurseong and Mirik.

Ice Parks with ice-skating facilities will come up at Rohini Park in Kurseong and Gangamaya Park near Darjeeling. They will also come up with a children's amusement park at Chowrasta.

"The Chief Minister has laid emphasis on tourism. A new tourist lodge will be built in Kurseong jointly by the state and GTA. The GTA is leasing out some of their existing tourist lodges, while refurbishing and running the others," added Tamang.

New fire stations are coming up at Sukhipokhari, Algarah and Gorubathan.