NBSTC seeks hold over tourism drive
Posted by barunroy on June 2, 2008
COOCH BEHAR, June 1: The subsidy-dependent North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) is trying its best to stand on its own feet with the tourism drive that was initiated three years ago. NBSTC sources said that Dooars in North Bengal is an attractive region to domestic and foreign tourists. Taking advantage of the interest shown over Dooars by tourists the NBSTC is attempting to revive its economic condition too. Two vehicles were kept aside for the tourism service along with a double-decker and two white 28-seaters to meet the growing demand. [An NBSTC Bus Siliguri]
Among the existing seventeen tour packages three earned high popularity with the tourists, NBSTC officials claimed. The first two are : (1) Cooch Behar -Jaldapara -Rocky Island -Lava -Lolegaon -Rickysum -Kalimpong -Cooch Behar (2 nights 3 days) (2) Cooch Behar -Jhalong -Bindu -Jaldapara -Cooch Behar (one-day). The third favourite is called ‘Ramgua’ originates from Kolkata. It journeys through Kolkata -Chilapata -Rasikbil -Rajabhatkhawa -Boxa -Jainti -Jaldapara -Gorumara -Lataguri -Chapramari -Jhalong -Bindu -Chalsa -Samsing -Rocky Island -Suntalekhola -Gorubathan -Leechkhola -Lava -Lolegaon -Rickysom -Delo -Kalimpong -New Jalpaiguri (7 nights 8 days).
The double-decker service along Cooch Behar -Rasikbil -Rajabhatkhawa -Jainti -Baneswar -Cooch Behar is the lowest-cost tour package and is also popular amongst local visitors. By spending a sum of Rs 125 only one can enjoy a daylong tour on any scheduled holiday. The tourists can arrange their own tour packages and reschedule them if they want. A group of fifteen to twenty tourists can avail any of any package of their choice, NBSTC officials said. To add another bookmark to its package-tour programmes the NBSTC is now planning a new tour package along Cooch Behar -Guwahati -Shillong -Cherapunji. A survey was completed recently to examine the proposed route’s viability. The package might be launched after the pujas.
Meanwhile, talks have been initiated between Assam State Transport Corporation and State Tourism department to extend NBSTC’s tourism drive to attract tourists from Assam and Meghalaya. It was observed that visitors from Assam and other northeast states come to Cooch Behar to visit Madhupurdham. [The Statesman]
