West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a major initiative to boost religious tourism in the state with the construction of a grand new temple complex. The project, named 'Durga Angan', will be established in New Town, Kolkata, and is set to become a significant landmark dedicated to Goddess Durga.
Foundation Ceremony and Project Details
While presenting an account of her government's past 15 years at Nabanna on Tuesday, the Chief Minister revealed that she will personally lay the foundation stone for Durga Angan in December. State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya confirmed that the ceremony date will be finalized by the CM herself.
The ambitious complex will be built on a sprawling 15-acre plot of land in New Town. The project has been allocated an estimated budget of around Rs 262 crore and will be constructed under the supervision of Hidco (Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation). A dedicated trust will be formed to manage the temple complex upon its completion.
A Boost for Bengal's Tourism Economy
This initiative is strategically timed, coming on the heels of UNESCO's heritage tag for Kolkata's Durga Puja. A state official stated that the project aims to create a permanent place of worship that will also attract tourists throughout the year, capitalizing on the global recognition.
Chief Minister Banerjee highlighted the state's impressive tourism figures, citing India Tourism data for 2025 which recorded 24 crore visitors to Bengal in October alone. "We are now No. 2, next year we will be No. 1. We have invested heavily in religious and educational tourism," she asserted.
Part of a Larger Religious Tourism Push
Durga Angan is not an isolated project but part of a concerted effort by the West Bengal government to develop religious tourism infrastructure across the state. Banerjee pointed to other significant projects, including the recently built Jagannath Dham and the allocation of land for the Mahakali Temple in Siliguri.
The vision is to create a network of spiritual destinations that will sustain visitor interest beyond festival seasons, providing a year-round economic boost to the region and solidifying West Bengal's position as a top tourism destination in India.
