Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb said on Monday that his department would soon resume work on several projects which had been stalled because of the lockdown.

He said the tourism department would soon finish the infrastructure work at Bhorer Alo, the largest tourism project taken up by the state government at Gazoldoba near the Teesta Barrage.

The projects include a road overbridge over the Teesta canal near the tourism hub in Gajoldoba, a pump house on the site and a road that will connect Bhorer Alo with the Bengal Safari Park and move through Baikunthapur forest.

“The project at Gajoldoba has been developed in an integrated manner jointly by departments like forest, public works, public health engineering, power and irrigation. We will hold a meeting at Gajoldoba on May 18 to take a stock of the situation and start the pending works,” the minister said.

The spreading of corona in the country that led to the lockdown has largely affected the tourism industry. It is only in north Bengal where the loss is likely to reach to Rs 1,500 crores or even beyond.

The impact was also felt at the government level and the state tourism department had stalled work in over 40 sites where it is supposed to come up with new facilities and infrastructure.

“Work of the ongoing projects taken up by our department will commence soon. In total, there are around 45 such projects which we want to complete now. Also, the department will give priority in finishing infrastructure at Bhorer Alo,” state tourism minister Gautam Deb said here on Monday.