A North Bengal gold rush

North Bengal will get a new look very soon. The sate Govt. is planning to invest heavily to build a dry port at Siliguri. A food park and a Special Economic Zone on the outskirts of Siliguri are planned. The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) has an idea to upgrade Bagdogra Airport and start adventure sports in the hills.

While announcing about a two day Seminar on North Bengal’s industrial scenario Mr. Asok Bhattarcherjee, the state urban development and municipal affairs minister, said this. The Seminar will be organized jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and it will be headed at Siliguri named `North Bengal Calling`.

Mr. Bhattacharya said that a container port would be constructed near Rangapani in Siliguri to handle the trade with china through Nathula. About Rs. 30 crore would be invested for the purpose. This would be a public-private partnership and the SJDA’s share would not exceed 11 per cent. The plot of 45 acre has been already identified and all process should be completed within three months to start the work. `The project has been approved by the centre,` said Mr. Asok Bhattarcherjee. The SJDA has received Rs. 3 crore from the centre and it will be used for handling the cargo facility at Bagdogra airport.
Mr. Bhattarcherjee also announced Rs. 25 crore food park projects in the Phansidewa area and the construction of an SEZ on a 100-acre plot for promoting the tea industry. He added that they will introduce adventure sports like river rafting, mountaineering for the tourists. Mr. Bhattacharjee said that the chief minister has sent a proposal to the centre and planning commission to invest further in North Bengal to develop industries in the six districts of north Bengal.

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