Khangchendzonga Park finally opens as a Joint Venture with Civil Engineering Enterprises

Pratibha Devisingh Patil inaugurating the park on 15 April, 2010

GANGTOK, 04 Nov: After Rs.55 crores spent on its construction and a year and a half of lying unused the Khangchendzonga Tourist Villa-cum Socio Cultural and Amusement park at Ranka has finally been opened to the public. As officials inform, a ‘soft’ opening was conducted on 2 November by RMDD Minister, CB Karki at the premises of the Park which had been inaugurated by President, Pratibha Singh Patil during April, 2010.
However since the inauguration the park was mired in controversy with the owner of the company which had been leased the park, one Jhunjhunwala, having been found to be a fraudster. Thereafter the government had attempted to lease it out again through tenders but none of the offers were found viable. Recently the state government approved the proposal of the Tourism Department to open the park on a joint venture with a private company.
Civil Engineering Enterprises Private Limited, Kolkata, is informed to be the company with which the government has embarked upon a joint venture. One of the reasons this company was selected is because this company itself has constructed the Park and installed the various infrastructure there and therefore knows how to operate them as well. In fact Civil Engineering Enterprises is the company which has also bagged the tender for the construction of the multi specialty hospital coming up at Sokeythang, Sichey, Gangtok. It is informed that personnel employed by the company will be responsible for the daily operations of the Park. The entry fee is at Rs. 100 per head with further charges for the facilities.  
The park was opened for public partaking on 02-11-2011 by Minister, RMDD, C.B. Karki in presence of Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation, Bhim Dhungel, the area M.L.A, Menlom Lepcha, Heads of the various departments Panchayats and officers from Tourism & Civil Aviation Department. The entry was free for the day to the locals and the school children who visited the park throughout the day.
The first of its kind in the State the park with its cultural theme has not only the potential to draw tourists wanting to know about Sikkimese culture but can also  be a major hit among the children from around the State and the neighboring areas with various entertainment facilities. The park also has an open air theatre for organizing cultural programmes and a multipurpose hall to host conventions and meetings.