GITABITAN
Gitabitan is a township of the Government of West Bengal near Santiniketan in Birbhum District of West Bengal. It is the place where the sun meets the ridge, where the evenings find rhythm with the songs ofbaul, where the life starts with the singing of birds at colonnades, where the mind gets tranquility amidst beautifully landscaped surroundings and sculpture gardens.
SANTINIKETAN
Santiniketan is a town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, approximately 160 KM north of Kolkata. It was founded by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, and later expended by his son, the great poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore whose vision become what is now a University Town(Visva Bharati University) that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Santiniketan is also a tourist attraction because Rabindranath Tagore composed many of his literary classics here, and his house is also a place of historical importance. BasantaUtsab and Poush Mela, the two main festivals of the place attract a large number of tourists every year. Besides, social and cultural events are organized throughout the year, attracting tourist, artisans, folk singers, dancers, and traditional Bauls from all over the country and world.
BACKGROUND
The Government of West Bengal is fully committed to developing quality urban infrastructure and enhancingthe quality of life not only for its residents but also to the visitors. Keeping this in mind the Government of West Bengal has undertaken this project to develop a township named Gitabitan near Santiniketan with a focus on culture and tourism. The project will be executed by West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited(WBHIDCO), a State Government undertaking.
A Biswa Bangla University is also being developed by WBHIDCO in close proximity to the township.
THE PROJECT
The Government of West Bengal has earmarked about 100.5 acre land for the development of Gitabitan township. WBHIDCO has already started creating infrastructure in the above-mentioned land in phases. The township will have mixture of several activity focus areas, such as central plaza, art and culture area, small business zone, lawn, landscaping, food plaza sculpture garden, etc.
WBHIDCO will allot three types of plots with sanctioned plan. All basic infrastructure like road, drainage, sewerage, drinking water, street light, landscaping, creation of plaza, front gate, boundary wall etc. will be developed by WBHIDCO.
After completion of the project, WBHIDCO will hand over all assets to the Association/Co-operative formed by plot owners. WBHIDCO or any State Govt. entity nominated by it will maintain the township till such time a formal body is constituted for the delivery of each service.
