Cooch Behar, Oct. 30 -- Cooch Behar town is set for a major facelift ahead of the annual Rash Mela, with the North Bengal Development department planning to highlight its rich historical heritage and cultural identity through a series of beautification projects.
The proposed makeover will cover administrative buildings, traffic junctions, road dividers and other prominent locations. Around 40 traffic points will be modernised, while high-resolution CCTV cameras are also planned for important areas across the town.
North Bengal Development minister Nisith Pramanik said: "Cooch Behar has its own distinctive heritage identity. Work has already started to decorate administrative buildings using colours that reflect this heritage. Around 40 traffic points will also be developed to modern standards."
As part of the initiative, the old clock at Harish Pal Chowpathy is being replaced with a new clock tower showcasing the town's history. Traditional symbols, including Cooch Behar's iconic double-decker bus and steam engines from the bygone railway era, are also proposed to be displayed at different intersections. Road dividers will be redesigned as well.
The beautification drive will also cover prominent heritage sites, including Rajbari, Sagardighi and Madanmohan Bari.
"Our aim is not just to beautify the town during Rash Mela but to make it attractive throughout the year, particularly during the evenings," the minister said. No specific budget has yet been finalised for the projects. The minister said the work would be taken forward as planned.
Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari is scheduled to attend the inauguration of this year's Rash Mela on November 24, the minister added.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.