Thaindian News

Sagar Island (West Bengal), June 1 (IANS) The West Bengal government will undertake infrastructural development in the sagar Island in South 24-Parganas district with a view to promote tourism, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Friday.

“The Ganga Sagar Mela is a very important festival and keeping this in view, we will spruce up infrastructural development here to make it an attractive tourist destination,” Banerjee said at Sagar Island, located 150 km from Kolkata.

The government is also working on developing a deep sea port in the area.

“The port trust and the government are already working on developing a deep sea port here, which will energise the economy and generate employment for the people of the area,” said Banerjee, adding that a railway link to the island would also come up soon.

“Work is on full swing, and very soon the island will be on the railway map. We have also donated 10 acres of land here on which tourist centres and other facilities will be developed,” Banerjee said.

The area being prone to cyclones, 15 relief centres will be built to provide quick succour to people in the event of natural disasters.

“Apart from developing roads and concretising the jetties, a university and a medical college will also be set up here. Tourism is an important industry and we will do everything required to develop the tourism infrastructure of the area,” said Banerjee, who inaugurated the restoration work of the Kapil Muni Ashram premises.

The chief minister handed over Kisan Credit Cards and crop insurance papers to the farmers of the area. She also distributed pattas (title deeds) under her pet project “Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griha” (Own land own house), under which a beneficiary is entitled to three cottah of land to build a private house.