Sagar Island to be developed as major tourist destination in West Bengal

West Bengal government has taken up a slew of projects to develop Sagar Island at the confluence of the river Ganga and Bay of Bengal as a major tourist destination.

Two virgin beaches will be developed as part of the programme.

'"There are good beaches and we are developing two of these at present," state Tourism Secretary Ajit Bardhan said.

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will on October 30 inaugurate 20 cottages having all modern amenities to cater to high-end tourists at Sagar Island," Bardhan told PTI here.

"A tourist lodge with a capacity to accommodate 50 persons is under construction and will be ready in about three months," he said, adding that it will for budget travellers.

Other than pilgrimage during 'Makar Sankranti' in January when lakhs of Hindus congregate, there was little tourism activity in the island and it was one of the "least explored areas", he said.

The new projects taken up by the state government would put the Sagar Island on the tourism map of the country and would attract travellers from all over the world with its casurina tree and mangrove-lined beaches, he said.

"The possibility of tent-accomodation in the casuarina tree-covered area is being explored," Bardhan said.

"Cruise tourism is also being encouraged to cover Gangasagar, Sunderbans and Bakkhali," he said, adding that this would be a major attraction for the tourists.