Siliguri, Jan. 19: The North Bengal Wild Animals Park, one of the major projects taken up by the state in the region, will be inaugurated by Mamata Banerjee on January 21, minister Gautam Deb said.

"It is a dream project of the state and will openon Thursday. The park will be an additional attraction for thousands of tourists who visit the town and this part of the state every year and also for wildlife enthusiasts and Siliguri residents. The chief minister will inaugurate the park during her next trip," Deb said at a news conference in his office here yesterday.

"The north Bengal development department has provided Rs 25 crore for the project. As of now, we have brought five buses from Indore for jungle safari and they can each carry upto 20 passengers ", Deb said.

"Initially, only the herbivore safari will start. There are more than 150 deer, leopard cats, a rhino and birds at the park. The safari will start everydayat 9amand continue till5pm. Duration for each safari would be around 45 minutes and the forest department will charge Rs 50 per visitor. The project is spread on a total area of 297 hectares and is located off NH31 on the way to Sevoke and around 7km from Siliguri", an official said.