Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to modernize the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway junction

According to sources of the Indian Railways, the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is one of the 204 stations of the country identified for an upgrade. This would translate into excellent features for passenger comfort. This station is the largest of this region and the busiest of the NFR zone. Work has started on shifting of ticket counters along with the parcel and RMS offices. Shifting of the existing parking area is also on the cards. The tentative plan is to finish the work by 2025. That is what the chief public relation officer of NFR informed. NJP, located on the southern end of Siliguri, is among the top 100 stations of India in terms of railway bookings. After the upgrade, the station with its new infrastructure would have the capacity to handle over 70,000 passengers per day. At present, it handles as many as 36,000 passengers on any average day. The introduction of modern amenities would provide an airport-like feel and comfort to passengers. Centre plans NJP railway junction revamp. The station also has the narrow gauge track of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), which is on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. There will now be new foot over-bridges, separate arrival, and departure lobbies.

The business community of this region, including stakeholders of the tourism industry have welcomed the announcement by the NFR. These would give a boost to the local economy and contribute to development of the tourism sector. This happens to be a major industry in the region and is the third major decision made by the Centre to improve infrastructure for better connectivity in the region. A few weeks earlier, the Union minister of road transport and highways initiated the work of a 13-kilometre-long, four-lane road to connect the northeast and northwest ends of Siliguri via Darjeeling More. There are plans on the anvil for the expansion of the Bagdogra airport.

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Tour operators are happy vis-à-vis trend of booking in hotels, resorts, homestays and the toy train across the hills

The Bengal tourism industry says nearly 90 per cent of the accommodation in homestays are booked until Diwali. These have mushroomed in different villages across the hills, both in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. Tour operators are happy at the trend of booking in hotels, resorts and homestays across the hills. Moreover, reservation for rides in the toy train of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) have also boosted their enthusiasm. In their opinion, these are indications about the revival of tourism in the hills, especially during the Diwali and Chhath Puja holidays. It is evident that after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic people are back in the travel mood. When compared to hotel bookings, homestays are doing better. As a veteran in the tourism industry explains - “Even in 2019, homestays were not so popular. But after the pandemic, people prefer to stay in isolated places instead of crowded ones. That is why bookings are so high in these accommodations.” Hill tourism on a festive peak.

The bookings reveal that during Diwali, tourists plan to go to prominent spots like Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong apart from locations like Sonada, Chatakpur, Mirik, Sitong, Lava and Loleygaon. Even lesser known homestays in Mirik like tea estates and orange groves are booked. Moreover, an official of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway DHR reveals there is a huge response from tourists for rides this season. The DHR conducts 12 daily joy rides from Darjeeling station. The return trip from Ghoom covers the Batasia loop and is the most popular ride in the DHR. The tourism industry suffered huge losses because of the pandemic and it hopes return of tourists can boost the industry.

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Durga Puja for Bengalis usually means a trip to the hill station of Darjeeling

This year, the government of Bengal has declared 10 days holiday for the Durga Puja. Obviously, there is a rush to book hotels in the hill station of Darjeeling. It seems already more than 70 per cent of hotel rooms in this favorite tourist destination are already booked. Darjeeling is located in northern West Bengal. The economy of the region depends on tourism. During the pandemic lockdown, tourism suffered in the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong apart from the forests of the Dooars. In view of reduction in coronavirus cases, revival of businesses would now be on the cards. New Jalpaiguri is the gateway to the region and tickets of trains are not available. Occupancy rate of hotel rooms have improved. It seems the region witnessed good footfalls during the summer holidays and hoteliers expect the trend to continue during the forthcoming festive season. Hotels nearly full as north Bengal braces for 'revenge travel' during Durga Puja. Apart from hotels, there is also an increase in demand of homestays.

The 10-day Durga Puja holiday for employees of the Bengal government, coupled with 'revenge travelling,' has prompted this massive demand. That is the opinion of the tourism industry. The surge is in 'revenge travel' because people are trying to make up for vacations lost during the pandemic. This has led to considerable escalation of hotel prices. An official of the West Bengal Tourism's Jaldapara Tourist Lodge says all rooms of the property are fully booked. Efforts are on to create a special menu for the guests. In order to tackle the rush of tourists, there will be special trains between Kolkata and New Jalpaiguri in Siliguri. As for the joy rides in the famous toy trains, the Northeast Frontier Railway has decided to operate four new rides in Darjeeling during the festive season. These will operate between Darjeeling and Ghum.

Durga Puja from outside India and within –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022

14 Best Durga Puja in New York USA 2022

2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Tourist hotels in Puri, Darjeeling and Digha –

GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

Darjeeling hotels brim with tourists

How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

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It is easy to mint millions in Bengal if one knows the ropes and has the right contacts

KBC, hosted by superstar Amitabh Bachhan, is a very popular TV show. Some of the participants hit the jackpot and win lakhs of rupees, a few even win crores. However, in Bengal, anyone can mint millions provided he knows the ropes and has the right contacts. This is not a fig of one’s imagination but true. It seems a relative of Partha Chatterjee, who worked as a house painter, now owns a number of hotels in tourist spots like Darjeeling, Uttarakhand and Puri apart from Dubai. He also owns multiple land and farmhouses in New Town-Rajarhat area. This individual is Prasanna Kumar Roy, the second middleman in SSC scam case. The CBI has taken him into custody from New Town. His is a rags to riches story and proof that it is easy to mint millions in Bengal if one has the correct contacts. CBI arrests close relative of Partha Chatterjee - once a HOUSE PAINTER, now owner of farm houses, hotels in DUBAI. It was a shock to the state of Bengal when it saw the mountain of money and properties belonging to Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee. Partha is now in jail. He was a minister in the cabinet of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Another person who is believed to have benefited from contacts in right places is Saigal Hossain, bodyguard of Anubrata Mondal. CBI has already arrested both of them on charges of cattle smuggling. In its chargesheet, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claims that Saigal Hossain received 'illgotten' money on behalf of Anubrata Mondal. The CBI alleged that Hossain earned Rs 26.35 lakhs over a period of seven years from 2015-2022. Investigations revealed the entire amount was deposited in an account maintained by a local bank. CBI arrested Hossain in June. According to the CBI chargesheet, Mondal is the alleged kingpin of the cattle smuggling racket. Enamul Haque was another of his associates. His role was to extend protection and patronage to those who bought the animals at a market in Ilambazar. The modus operandi was to ferry the animals from the market to thr Indo-Bangla border. Cattle smuggling case: Over 26 lakhs earned by Anubrata Mondal’s bodyguard in 7 years, says CBI. Saigal Hossain had purchased innumerable properties during 2015 and 2022 in various places.

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GosaniYatra or The Durga Puja of Puri

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How Can You Enjoy Durga Puja At Affordably Priced Hotel In Digha?

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CM of Bengal announces 11 days holiday for Bengalis to celebrate Durga Puja 2022 in a big way

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is never at a loss for ideas. In spite of innumerable problems around her, she remains unruffled. She has declared 11 days holiday for the government staff from September 30 to October 10. She has drawn up a schedule and the celebrations will begin from September 1. On this day, there will be a mega rally in Kolkata to thank UNESCO for including Kolkata's Durga Puja on the list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’. The rally will start from Jorasanko Thakurbari and end at Rani Rasmoni Avenue. The immersion carnival would be in Kolkata on October 8. It was not observed for two years due to Covid-19 pandemic. Bengal CM Mamata announces Rs 60,000 grant to Durga Puja committees, 11 days holiday. The long stretch of holiday will act as incentive for the people to move out of their homes and visit tourism spots like Digha, Puri or Darjeeling to relieve boredom. It will also boost the Bengal tourism sector.

The Chief Minister also announced that her government would increase the grant to Durga Puja organizing committees in the state from Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. She announced this during a meeting with Durga Puja organizing committee members at the city's Netaji Indoor Stadium. She also mentioned that there would be a 60 per cent discount on power tariff to organizers of Durga Puja. She added that this year's Puja would be special. There would be many visitors from abroad and the organizers must be prepared for this.

Durga Puja from outside India –

13 Best Durga Puja in London UK 2022
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2022 Durga Puja Calendar for Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Three cheers for Didi – the Jill of all trades (satire)

Didi is a unique leader and has no parallel – she is a wonderful orator, she can paint rosy pictures sitting on the dais, she can swing votes in her favor, she can sing songs for almost any occasion – she is, in short, the Jill of all trades.
Suddenly her smartphone rang – it was Moo Cool, her trusted lieutenant.
‘Yes,’ her voice sounded tired. She had just returned to her office after inaugurating one dozen Durga pujas that evening.
‘I know you are famished, ‘Moo Cool was apologetic. ‘But – there is one more inauguration.’
‘But I have completed the schedule for the day,’ Didi was irritated.
‘This is not a puja but a toy train.’
‘In Darjeeling?’
‘No. In one of the pandals. You have inaugurated the puja but missed out the toy train. And – the kids are crying. They are waiting in queue and want you in the driver’s seat.’

Didi sighed.
She could not antagonize the kids. They were the future. Who knows, one of them could very well become her Nemesis and the reason for her downfall.
This Durga Puja had been hectic for her. All her fans wanted her to inaugurate the pujas and she did not have the heart to refuse. The popularity of movie stars faded when she came on the stage. And Tollywood had accepted the fate.
Didi had accommodated many of them into her menagerie and had never worried about the age factor. There were those bent down by age alongside the youth bubbling with energy. To her, the ability to draw crowds was what mattered.
As her car moved towards the venue, she remembered that she has yet to paint more pictures, sell them and make money to bring the Eiffel Tower into Kolkata. She had already brought the Big Ben and the London Eye was on its way. Now, it was the turn of the Eiffel Tower.
That was the feedback from the social media circuit as confirmed by Dee Wreck – he managed her internet interaction.
She was the only woman leader who could paint, write poems, sing, and walk – and hold the stage on her own. She could hold her audience spellbound with her oratory powers. She was, in essence, a Jill of all trades. (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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