Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Adhikari Promises Cooch Behar Tourism Boost, Tea Workers’ Bonus
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said Cooch Behar will get better facilities for tourists.
The plans include improved roads, railways, airport access, guesthouses, and hotels.
He said the local airport may join a national flight program called UDAN.
He also promised to reopen closed tea gardens and give tea workers a 20 percent bonus.
He said some tea workers would receive ownership of surplus land where they live.
The government plans to build 1,200 houses in Toto Para.
Adhikari also wants the Terai-Dooars region to become a major tourism destination.
Other plans include protecting wildlife and building bridges in northern West Bengal.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari promised improved tourism infrastructure and connectivity in Cooch Behar.
The Cooch Behar airport is expected to join the UDAN project after an October 8 agreement.
Adhikari pledged to reopen closed tea gardens, provide workers a 20% bonus, and transfer surplus-land ownership.
He said the Terai-Dooars region would become a world tourism hub within one year.
The government also announced wildlife and transport projects, including a tiger release at Buxa and a new Murti river bridge.
- Who
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the state government; tea garden workers and residents of northern West Bengal are among those affected.
- What
- The government announced tourism, connectivity, tea-worker welfare, wildlife, and bridge-development plans.
- When
- The announcements were made on Tuesday; an agreement for the UDAN project is planned for October 8, and a tiger release may occur by October 2.
- Where
- Cooch Behar, the Terai-Dooars region, Alipurduar, Buxa Tiger Reserve, and Jalpaiguri in northern West Bengal.
- Why
- The stated aims are to attract more tourists, improve infrastructure, support tea workers, protect wildlife, and fulfill government promises.
- Tourism target
- Adhikari said the Terai-Dooars area would become a world tourism hub within one year.
- Airport plan
- Cooch Behar airport is to be included in the UDAN project, subject to an agreement planned for October 8.
- Tea-worker bonus
- Adhikari pledged a 20 percent bonus for tea garden workers.
- Housing commitment
- The chief minister said 1,200 houses would be built in Toto Para.
- Wildlife project
- A Royal Bengal Tiger is expected to be translocated to Buxa Tiger Reserve, possibly by October 2.
- Bridge project
- A roughly 126-metre-long, 13-metre-wide bridge over the Murti river was inaugurated at a cost of nearly Rs 20 crore.
- Additional infrastructure
- Two more bridges are under construction, and work on the damaged Kalikhola bridge has been approved.