Mamata Banerjee visits land identified for building guesthouse for Puri pilgrims

“A new airport is coming close to the location and a bridge to connect Puri town is also being developed. So it’s one of the good places for the purpose. Tomorrow (Thursday) I will meet Naveen Patnaik and discuss to finalise the land,” said Banerjee.

Today, our Hon'ble CM Smt @MamataOfficial inspected the proposed land at Puri, for the construction of the upcoming GoWB guest house.

Her visionary leadership inspires us all to strive for progress and development for all!

Few glimpses 👇 pic.twitter.com/cw5Q1FmwW7

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 22, 2023

Stating that large numbers of tourists from West Bengal visited Puri and that it was known as the sweet home for them, Banerjee said many people found it difficult to get accommodation during festivals like Rath Yatra and on other occasions.

“There is a need for the construction of more hotels and guesthouses. Since lakhs of people from Bengal come to Puri at least five times in a year, we also want to have our guesthouse in the town to accommodate a few people, if not everyone. I have been trying for the guesthouse for the past few years,” said Banerjee.

The exact acres of land to be given to the West Bengal government for Bangla Niwas will be finalised during the two chief ministers’ meeting, said an official.

Banerjee said her government would start the construction as soon as Odisha handed over the land.

Sources said the Odisha government had identified land on Puri’s outskirts for different state governments to construct guesthouses. Around five acres of land have been earmarked for the construction of Bangla Niwas.

To queries on her meeting with Patnaik, Banerjee said it would not be their first meeting as she had met him earlier too. Banerjee said it would be a “courtesy call” and that they would discuss the construction of Bangla Niwas.

“Since he (Patnaik) sent a minister to invite me during the hockey world cup, I had decided to meet him personally when in Odisha,” she added.

Banerjee declined to comment on speculations about the formation of a third front minus the BJP and the Congress ahead of the 2024 polls. She visited the Jagannath Temple and offered puja later.