Alipurduar, Sept. 20 -- Even before the arrival of a Royal Bengal Tiger in Buxa Tiger Reserve, security arrangements are being strengthened at Rajabhatkhawa, one of the reserve's key tourist destinations. A Forest department building has been handed over to the Alipurduar district police for use as a new police outpost. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is expected to inaugurate the outpost on October 2.

On Saturday, police officials from Kalchini Police Station and Forest department officials from the Rajabhatkhawa range completed the necessary formalities and handed over the building to the police. The outpost will be established in the wooden structure beside the Rajabhatkhawa football ground.

Alipurduar Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Shaw said: "We had already sent a proposal for a new police outpost. We hope the outpost will become operational very soon. On one hand, a tiger is being brought here, while tourists visit the area throughout the year. Therefore, the outpost is important from the security point of view."

According to police sources, the outpost will initially have three police personnel, including an officer-in-charge. Additional personnel and civic volunteers will be deployed as required. The outpost is expected to strengthen local law-and-order arrangements, improve tourist safety and enable faster police intervention in areas adjoining Buxa Tiger Reserve.

There had been a long-standing demand for a separate police outpost at Rajabhatkhawa. The area attracts tourists throughout the year, while preparations are underway to release a Royal Bengal Tiger in Buxa's core area on October 2.

Senior police officials said the distance between Rajabhatkhawa and the main area under Kalchini police station has been a practical challenge during emergencies. Police officials expect tourist footfall to rise following the tiger's arrival. The outpost will therefore be important for crowd management, traffic regulation, tourist safety and emergency response, while coordination with the Forest Department will help prevent tourist activity from disturbing the tiger and other wildlife.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.