A file picture of Essel World, which has triggered future visions for the city

April 28: Here is some good news for a city starved of quality entertainment.

The Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) has struck a deal with Essel World, which will provide technical expertise to set up the first-ever amusement park of the Northeast in the city.

The government has already provided a 50-bigha plot for the park to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore at Amingaon and said that the park will come up within 22 months once construction begins.

ATDC managing director Kamal Goswami said, “The park will be set up with a private investment of about Rs 10 crore as a joint venture project while the Mumbai-based Pan India Paryatan Limited (PIPL) of Essel World fame will provide the required technical expertise. At present, demarcation of the land is going on and construction is expected to start shortly.”

The PIPL is the promoter of the first and largest amusement park in Mumbai, known as Essel World.

The corporation said the park would have attractions for everyone, including the grown-ups. Besides children’s rides like big apple and junior crazy cars, it will also have a host of adult, family and water-related rides. The park will have something for foodies with provisions for eateries that will serve everything from fast food to a big, leisurely meal.

The ATDC said investors plunged into the project, taking into consideration the affluent middle class population of the city. “There were a lot of investors as the industry has registered handsome growth both in terms of total number of parks and total investment intake. According to the Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries, a park can be profitable if revenue from gate collections and other sources of income from sale of food, toys, memorabilia reach a 50:50 ratio,” Goswami said.

The ATDC dispelled fears that location of the park on the city outskirts would be bad for business.

“We have done our homework. If we can provide quality entertainment, people will flock to the park. It will also be a major tourist destination. It all depends on the nature of services provided and there will be no compromise on that front,” he added.

The ATDC’s optimism was fuelled by the response of the people towards the renovated Nehru Park. Since its reopening on April 11, the park had attracted people in hordes despite inclement weather. The GMDA had undertaken the renovation and beautification of the park, spread over 18 bighas, in February 2003, at an estimated cost of Rs 98 lakh.