Digha to become top tourist destination, industry hub: Mamata

Speaking at an administrative meeting here in East Midnapore district, Banerjee called upon the local authorities to make it clean, decorated and attractive to tourists both from the country and abroad.

Growth of industry would spread from the port town of Haldia to Digha making the entire region more attractive and ideal for investment and tourism, she said.

The state has received investment proposals around Digha, around 100 km from business destination Haldia, and the initiatives would create more employments, Banerjee said.

"We have already received investment worth Rs 17,000 crore in this region. Proposals of nearly Rs 9,000 crore are also in the pipeline," the chief minister said.

Realising the growing importance of this beach town, she said her government has been developing an international standard convention centre, which would be commissioned by February 2019.

"Apart from trade and investment, investors can also utilise the privileges of this tourist destination giving a boost to both trade and tourism," Banerjee said.

The chief minister also asked Transport Minister and MLA of the district Suvendu Adhikari to organise an industry conclave at Haldia, which would help in giving a shape to plans for development in the entire area.

The chief minister said a small Jagannath temple in the area could be developed as a tourist site.

She also asked the district officials to identify more sites to be develop as tourist destinations and not to allow construction of hotels and shops in an unplanned manner.

On the plea of the local hoteliers' association, the chief minister asked nationalised banks to provide currency exchange facilities for the help of foreign tourists.

She also asked the local administration to make the town clean and green and set up a waste management programme in the area.