Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb on Thursday opened a waiting hall and a canteen constructed at a cost of Rs 35 lakh at the Bengal Safari Park near here.

Inaugurating the new facilities, Deb said a centre for exhibition-cum-sale of local handicraft products and souvenirs would soon come up in front of the park.

“The waiting hall and canteen can help visitors during their short stay inside the park. Senior citizens and children visiting the park could not find a place to take a brief halt as the entire park is in an open area. The waiting hall will help them during the monsoon and on scorching sunny days,” the minister said.

The canteen, sources said, will be run by members of the forest protection committee. The state forest department spent Rs 34 lakh on the new facilities.

The minister said a two-storied Karma Tirtha would be built on a five-cottah plot near the park where local people could set up stalls to exhibit and sell handicraft and different other products.

“The building will have 14 stalls in total. The project cost is Rs 86 lakh. Local self-help groups will run the Karma Tirtha. Our idea is to provide an avenue of revenue to local artisans and residents. They are expected to draw buyers as hundreds visit the park every day,” said Deb.

Located around 6km from Siliguri, the park is spread over an area of 297 hectares. After the lockdown, it was reopened for visitors on October 2, along with all other zoological parks in Bengal.