The state labour department has sanctioned Rs 14.24 crore and provided a 10-cottah plot to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) for the construction of a building which can serve as an accommodation and refreshment for people visiting Siliguri from the hills.

On Thursday, Anit Thapa, the chief executive of the GTA, laid the foundation stone of the building that will come up at Dagapur here.

“The residents of the hills come to Siliguri on various errands like medical treatment, studies and official works. People from weaker economic groups often find it inconvenient to stay here in hotels where they have to spend some money. That is why, we decided to build this building here to provide them accommodation,” Thapa said after laying the foundation of the proposed building which will serve as a hostel/transit accommodation-cum-training centre.

He said the GTA had sent the proposal to the state, based on which the labour department has provided land and sanctioned funds.

Initially, Rs 3.56 crores has been disbursed for the project. “The tender process is complete and the construction work will commence soon. It will be named as GTA Shramik Bhavan,” added the GTA chief.

Earlier, on March 1, Barun Roy, the additional chief secretary of the department, had sent a letter to the principal secretary of GTA, mentioning
the approval.

In the letter, he has mentioned that the West Bengal Building and other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board has approved the proposal.

“It was decided that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) will be
the project implementing authority. The approved budget for the construction is Rs 14.24 crores for the proposed training centre (with a capacity of 100 beds) and
25 per cent of the total funds has been allotted for the project,” Roy has stated in his letter.