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Newstrack
WB Tourism inks agreement with Mahindra Holidays to promote tourism in state
ETW STAFF - Kolkata
Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India (MHRIL), a subsidiary
of the Mahindra group, recently signed a MoU with West Bengal Tourism Development
Corporation (WBTDC) and Sunderban Infrastructure Development Corporation (SIDC)
for promotion and development of tourism in West Bengal. The MoU was signed
in the presence of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the state chief minister, Manabendra
Mukherjee, the state minister for tourism, micro and small scale enterprises
and textiles, and Arun Nanda, chairman of MHRIL.
The MoU outlines areas of co-operation geared towards establishment
of new destinations and upgradation/modernisation of existing tourist destinations
in the state. MHRIL will commercially operate resorts developed by it to facilitate
economic development and employment in West Bengal. WBTDC, SIDC and MHRIL will
cooperate with each other to identify areas of tourist interest, particularly
in the southern and northern parts of Bengal. Such co-operation shall include
identifying suitable locations, the acquisition of lands identified and construction
and operation of the resorts on the identified lands.
MHRIL will also undertake identification of sites, preparation
of plans for their development and conducting of feasibility studies in consultation
and with the co-operation of WBTDC and SIDC.
Commenting on the development, Manabendra Mukherjee, the
state minister for tourism, micro and small scale enterprises and textiles,
said, "Tourism is a key focus area of the West Bengal government and this
initiative will help in providing better facilities to promote inbound and domestic
tourism."
In the first phase, the MHRIL plans to set up five eco-resorts
in the state at Darjeeling, Gorumara and Jaldapara in North Bengal, Mandarmani
and the Sunderbans in South Bengal at an investment of Rs 200 crore. The company
will need 10-20 acres of land for each resort, each having around 100-150 rooms.
The project will 'kick-off' with an international-class eco-resort in the Sunderbans,
probably by the end of this year.
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