The state’s higher education department has sanctioned two more degree colleges for the Siliguri sub-division–one at Ghoshpukur in the Phansidewa block and another at Hatighisha in Naxalbari.

Apart from these two colleges, two more Industrial Training Institutes (ITI), one at Phasidewa and another at Batasi under the Siliguri Mahukuma Parishad (SMP) will also start functioning from the upcoming academic session, state tourism Minister Gautam Deb said here on Monday.

The minister maintained that the Hatighisha College will be the second Hindi medium college in the region after Banarhat College in Jalpaiguri district.

“Two more degree colleges, Ghoshpukur College and Hatighisha Hindi College, have been given approval. The Hatighisha College will be known as Birsa Munda College. Recommendation for the change of name has been given to the education department, and we will start the college after the permission is granted. It will be the second Hindi medium college after Banarhat College in Jalpaiguri district,” Mr Deb said.

“Two more ITIs will start functioning from July. However, there are issues with the ITI at Batasi, as it works under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and no one has showed interest, though the tender has been passed twice now. We will look for some entrepreneurs to look after it,” he added.

Meanwhile, a review meeting was held at Gazoldoba on the banks of the Teesta River in Jalpaiguri on Monday, where discussions on the mega tourism project ‘Bhorer Alo’, were held.

“The project will come up on an area of 208 acres with investment of Rs 2200 crore. Twelve different departments are involved in the implementation of the project. The tourism department is acting as the nodal agency. The tourism department has given Rs 5 crore to the forest department for the construction of a 12-km stretch of road from Bengal Safari: North Bengal Wild Animal Park’ near Salugara in Siliguri to ‘Bhorer Alo’,” the minister said.

“Thirty cottages are being constructed, and six of them are ready. The project will soon open for the public. Moreover, a 10-bed heath care unit will be set up there on a temporary basis. We have asked the District Magistrate to provide land for the same,” he added.

The proposed project will have plush resorts, bird watching centre, golf course, boating, elephant and jeep safaris, among others, it is learnt.