Kolkata Project Update II - project news from Kolkata [Archive] - Page 18

Suncity

December 6th, 2010, 02:38 AM

Hopefully this project will not get stuck due to the usual political nonsense that is happening in West Bengal now a days.

Indian Institute of Science, Engineering and Research (IISER) campus

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/States-first-green-campus-in-the-offing/articleshow/7050243.cms

In a scenario where new campuses are chasing salubrious environs and old ones are upping their verdant factor, the Indian Institute of Science, Engineering and Research (IISER) is ready to raise the bar at it upcoming campus at Haringhata.

Not only will the campus at IISER run by the ministry of human resource development be completely green, it will also be the first in the state, perhaps in the country as well, that will be a part of Griha, an initiative of the ministry of environment for campuses built following environment protection norms.

Planned according to a green design' submitted by architects Suresh Goyel and Associates Consortium, the campus will be built at a cost of `500 crore, which has already been sanctioned by the ministry. An IIT-Kharagpur alumnus of the 1960 batch, Goyel has already created ripples with his designs at IIT-Guwahati and the newly laid out expansion plans for his alma mater, that is gearing up to double its intake over the next five years.

Four major waterbodies inside the 250-acre tract off NH-34 will not only be left intact but will be developed into nature parks by geo-scientists and wetland experts. The campus will be designed to have only 10 to 15% built-up space. There are only 200 students now but once the campus is ready over the next two years, there will be a 10-time increase in intake.

The campus has been planned in such a way that there will be just one central tower a 10-storeyed highrise housing libraries, computer centres and administrative offices. There will be no building over three storeys to disturb the natural look of the place.

None of the buildings here, apart from the central tower, will have airconditioning. The architects have designed the campus in such a way that there will be optimum utilization of the cool breeze that blows in from the Yamuna canal a two-kilometre-long waterbody that runs along the boundary wall. "An ancient technique of trapping the free-flowing breeze within the buildings will be used, making airconditioning unnecessary," Duttagupta said.

Solar power will be used to power a large part of the campus and rainwater will be harvested. No automobile will be allowed inside to keep it pollution-free and faculty, students, staff and visitors will either have to walk or ride the bicycle. An approach road has been built with three entry points just outside the boundary wall where all fuel-powered vehicles will have to be parked.

The campus will, however, have ultramodern facilities comparable with that of international campuses. There will be a complex housing lecture laboratories, theatres and an auditorium, fitted with modern acoustics to hold at least 1,000 people in the audience. Also, theme food parks adjacent to hostels and faculty residences have been designed along with health centres, complete with gym with sauna and swimming pools. A hospital with all modern facilities will be built. There will also be a modern sports complex, complete with a stadium that will provide basic facilities for all kinds of popular sports.

"Since we will be at least 65 km away from the heart of city, the campus has been planned to make it self-sufficient. We'll also have a school (Kendriya Vidyalaya), a modern shopping centre and an adjacent entertainment zone," Duttagupta added.

mountaincloud

December 6th, 2010, 01:10 PM

Infosys coming soon to Kolkata for Rs. 75 crore

NDTV Correspondent, 06 December, 2010

Infosys will spend Rs. 75 crore to set up a base in Kolkata. The software giant on Monday paid Rs. 19 crore as an advance for 50 acres of land at Rajarhat in the north eastern part of Kolkata. This will be the first base of Infosys in West Bengal.

The company hopes to begin construction within the next six months.

Rajarhat has however become the latest battleground between Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and the ruling CPM.

"Infosys will now pay 25 per cent of the land prices as the first installment and the rest of the amount once the connector road to the campus is complete," said state IT Minister Debesh Das. "The project will create jobs for 15,000-20,000 people."

Infosys mentor NR Narayana Murthy and other senior company officials reportedly spent the weekend video-conferencing with the government to finalize the details of the deal.

IT giants Wipro and TCS are also in the process of landing campuses at Rajarhat.

Read more at: http://profit.ndtv.com/news/show/infosys-coming-soon-to-kolkata-for-rs-75-crore-127205?cp

mountaincloud

December 6th, 2010, 01:27 PM

http://www.ilovekolkata.in/index.php/News/Infosys-to-construct-facility-at-Rajarhat-in-6-mnths.html

Kolkata, Dec 6: IT major Infosys will begin the construction of its first facility at New Town Rajarhat within six months and does not foresee any problem from political parties opposed to land acquisition.

"We are for creating employment opportunity in the state as well as in the region. We are not in any politics," CEO and MD Kris Gopalakrishnan said here today.

"The Infosys facility will come on over 50 acres it received from the West Bengal government to create employment opportunity for nearly 20,000 people," he said.

"The Chief Minister and Mr Das (IT Minister Debesh Das) is persistent enough to make this happen. We have seen a lot of talent here involved with the IT sector and enough employment opportunity could be generated from the sector in the region," Gopalakrishnan said after a 30-minute meeting with Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Das.

"We need support from everybody here, as we have received in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune to make it happen for the benefit of young talent from this region," he said.

Suncity

December 7th, 2010, 02:00 AM

The Telegraph Infosys coverage:

:nuts:

The Telegraph, June 5, 2010 (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100605/jsp/frontpage/story_12532104.jsp) -

Infosys has no plans to come to Bengal “at least in the next six years”, an official said today, preparing for a change of guard in the state and factoring in the possibility of political instability.

“We have no plans to go there at least in the next six years. We are not saying it officially but that’s the position,” the Infosys official said on the condition of anonymity.

Express Buzz, November 23, 2010 (http://expressbuzz.com/finance/infosys-to-set-up-50-acre-campus-in-kolkata/225456.html).

IT major Infosys Technologies Tuesday signed an agreement with the West Bengal government for setting up a campus on a 50-acre plot at Rajarhat in the city's north eastern fringes that is expected to provide employment to 15,000-20,000 people.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the IT giant and the state's Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) for the site, said state Housing Minister Gautam Deb.

The Telegraph, November 24, 2010 (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101124/jsp/frontpage/story_13214853.jsp)

"Sources in Infosys told The Telegraph that the company was yet to firm up any project plan for the plot, which was acquired “just to keep an option open for future expansions”."

Economic Times, December 6, 2010: (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/Infosys-to-construct-facility-in-WB-in-six-months-/articleshow/7053060.cms)

IT major Infosys will begin construction of its first facility in West Bengal at New Town Rajarhat adjacent to the metropolis within six months and does not foresee any problem from opposition political parties opposed to land acquisition .

"We are for creating employment opportunity in the state as well as in the region. We are not in any politics," CEO and MD Kris Gopalakrishnan said here today.

"The Infosys facility will come on over 50 acre it received from the West Bengal government to create employment opportunity for nearly 20,000 people," he said.

The Telegraph, December 7, 2010 (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101207/jsp/calcutta/story_13217449.jsp)

Bengal has again blurred the line between a promise and a pipe dream, banking on land deals with IT behemoths Wipro and Infosys to transform gloom town Rajarhat into a boom town without bothering about basic infrastructure.

“A plot of land is not all that you need to set up a large IT project. You need infrastructure first,” a senior industry official said, echoing all-round scepticism about housing minister and Hidco chairman Gautam Deb’s claim that all is well in Rajarhat-New Town.

Suncity

December 7th, 2010, 02:21 AM

The Telegraph's sister publication - the ABP seems to be gung ho about the Financial Hub project.

Render (is this real?) from ABP article

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/1682/kolkatafinancialhub.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/i/kolkatafinancialhub.jpg/)

In a report today it had the following points:

* Construction to start soon. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the construction in mid Jan, 2011

* Total proposed land is 300 acres

* A private sector company Orion is an investor in the project

* ILFS is preparing the plans

* First phase will have 50 acres

* 10 acres will be for two 25 storey towers; Land will also be handed over to 5 public sector banks

* Another 100 acres will be made ready soon.

* Hidco has claimed many companies have expressed interest in the financial hub

* Sources have claimed that companies are in wait and watch mode because of the current political problems. However they are hoping that stability will be restored once a new government takes power next year for five years.

sidney_jec

December 7th, 2010, 03:25 AM

The Telegraph Infosys coverage:

:nuts:
The Telegraph, June 5, 2010 (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100605/jsp/frontpage/story_12532104.jsp) -

Express Buzz, November 23, 2010 (http://expressbuzz.com/finance/infosys-to-set-up-50-acre-campus-in-kolkata/225456.html).

The Telegraph, November 24, 2010 (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101124/jsp/frontpage/story_13214853.jsp)

Economic Times, December 6, 2010: (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/Infosys-to-construct-facility-in-WB-in-six-months-/articleshow/7053060.cms)

The Telegraph, December 7, 2010 (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101207/jsp/calcutta/story_13217449.jsp)

Telegraph like TOI has totally lost it. i thought it was one of the better offs

The Telegraph's sister publication - the ABP seems to be gung ho about the Financial Hub project.

Render (is this real?) from ABP article

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/1682/kolkatafinancialhub.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/i/kolkatafinancialhub.jpg/)

In a report today it had the following points:

* Construction to start soon. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the construction in mid Jan, 2011

* Total proposed land is 300 acres

* A private sector company Orion is an investor in the project

* ILFS is preparing the plans

* First phase will have 50 acres

* 10 acres will be for two 25 storey towers; Land will also be handed over to 5 public sector banks

* Another 100 acres will be made ready soon.

* Hidco has claimed many companies have expressed interest in the financial hub

* Sources have claimed that companies are in wait and watch mode because of the current political problems. However they are hoping that stability will be restored once a new government takes power next year for five years.

Orion real estate company based out of texas and they dont even have projects outside texas let alone out of the country :nuts:

studdmanster

December 7th, 2010, 05:56 AM

avishar

December 7th, 2010, 01:01 PM

@Sidney Remember that ORION TECH CITY SEZ?Maybe its the same Orion company they are talking about(could be wrong though!)

sidney_jec

December 7th, 2010, 05:18 PM

oooh yesss. great catch there. :cheers:

SamitB

December 7th, 2010, 05:40 PM

Yes Avishar
I have guessed earlier when Orion has tied up at the inauguration of Financial HUB.but the render seems little bit different in
http://www.agrawalarchitects.com/projects/

SSCaddict

December 8th, 2010, 02:25 PM

Premji meets Buddhadeb over Wipro's new campus

KOLKATA: Wipro head Azim Premji Wednesday called on West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here in what was described as a "positive meeting" on establishing the IT major's second campus on the outskirts of the city.

Premji had a half-hour meeting with Bhattacharjee at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings.

Wipro has purchased 50 acres of land from the state government for setting up its second campus at New Town, Rajarhat in the north eastern fringes of the city.

The upcoming project promises an investment of over Rs.1,000 crore and jobs for at least 15,000 IT professionals.

Premji, however, left without talking to the media after the meeting.

When contacted, state IT minister Debesh Das told IANS: "All I can say is the meeting was positive. But it was not about any new projects. I can't give any further details".

Wipro has its existing centre in the IT hub at sector V of the satellite township of Salt Lake.

A source said the two discussed the Rajarhat project with Bhattacharjee keen that the company starts its second campus soon.

The proposed campus is located close to a 50-acre plot given by the state government to another IT giant Infosys earlier this week for setting up its first facility in West Bengal.

The state has attracted all big names in the sector. Tata Consultancy Service and IBM are among the other companies which have already set up base here.

source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/Premji-meets-Buddhadeb-over-Wipros-new-campus/articleshow/7065320.cms)

Aritra Das

December 8th, 2010, 07:07 PM

Telegraph like TOI has totally lost it. i thought it was one of the better offs

Orion real estate company based out of texas and they dont even have projects outside texas let alone out of the country :nuts:
that render looks like a building to be built by RMJM in China....

avishar

December 8th, 2010, 07:16 PM

@Aritra its the Gate of the Orient in Suzhou.Looks exaclty like the one in the render.

avishar

December 9th, 2010, 04:27 PM

Finally, IT’s on a roll in New Town

Kolkata: IT major Wipro Technologies is expected to begin constructing its second campus in the Bengal at Rajarhat in three months. State IT minister Debesh Das on Wednesday said that infrastructure work on the 50-acre plot allotted to Wipro would be completed in 15 days to a month.
Wipro chief Azim Premji met chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Das at Writers’ Buildings on Wednesday. Premji declined to speak to the Press after the meeting but sources said the state government requested the company to begin construction work within three months and the IT major promised to match that timeline.
Why is the government so keen on the three-month deadline? The answer, possibly, is the impending assembly election. If the project gets under way by February-March, the beleaguered government can use it as political leverage in the polls. Barely a fortnight ago, Infosys signed an MoU with the state government for a Rs 75-crore research facility in Rajarhat that will generate some 15,000 jobs.
The government will not let go of the chance to tom-tom its success on keeping the IT biggies back in Bengal.
“We had a fruitful meeting with Azim Premji. They (Wipro) will start work as soon as possible. They are ready with a big expansion plan,” Das told TOI after the meeting.
The present Wipro campus in Salt Lake Sector V can accommodate 6,500 employees. “It can at best take 1,500 more,” he said, adding that various departments of the state government need to race against time to provide infrastructure facilities to this IT giant.
Wipro paid Hidco the first tranche of Rs 18.90 crore — 25% of the total — for the 50 acres at Rajarhat’s Action Area II on January 1 this year. When complete, the second campus can create 20,000 jobs. “Other installments will be paid according to the terms of the deal,” the minister said.
Asked whether the company is intimidated by the recent movement by Trinamool Congress against land acquisition in Rajarhat, Das said: “We have convinced them that the people here support the project and we have confidence in them.”
Allaying fears of the opposition’s agitations, he clarified that there would not be another Singur-like situation in the state. “We are confident that no company will be forced to leave Bengal and that the Singur episode was the last time such a thing happened. We have faith in people.”
Tata Motors had to shift the Nano unit from Singur to Gujarat’s Sanand in 2008 after an aggressive campaign by Trinamool for the landlosers.
Education boost
The Azim Premji Foundation (APF) is keen to partner the state IT department in improving education in Bengal. APF plans to help the primary education department by providing educative CDs, machines and other aid. “We have provided such assistance to secondary level schools in the state. We look forward to working with APF in primary education,” state IT minister Debesh Das said.

HIDCO better start moving fast regarding infrastructure.Bengal should not lose this oppurtunity to create a good impression for future investors.

Ands whats this "finally" bullshit.DLF,unitech have already built large campuses ages ago.TOI nevers leaves a chance to give a negative attitude to things.

avishar

December 9th, 2010, 04:30 PM

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/9073/getimagedll.png

Suncity

December 10th, 2010, 03:30 AM

AIFF ties up with JSW to build Bangalore, Kolkata stadiums

http://sify.com/news/aiff-ties-up-with-jsw-to-build-bangalore-kolkata-stadiums-news-national-kmjvaqhfhgb.html

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has tied up with JSW Steel Limited to build football stadiums in Kolkata and Bangalore.

AIFF president Praful Patel told reporters here Thursday that the federation has got Kolkata's Rabindra Sarovar Stadium for a 30-year lease and JSW, which is owned by Sajjan Jindal, will take over the stadium in the next three-four months. Jindal has also been appointed chairman of the I-League.

'We have got the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium for a 30-year lease from the state government and JSW will start the renovation work in the next three-four months. JSW will also take over the Bangalore Football Stadium,' said Patel, after the federation's Annual General Meeting.

Suncity

December 10th, 2010, 03:33 AM

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/9073/getimagedll.png

These two projects have topped out. There are construction update pics in the website

http://www.pioneerproperty.in/

Suncity

December 10th, 2010, 03:44 AM

[B] TOI nevers leaves a chance to give a negative attitude to things.

TOI or Telegraph or whatever - I think they often try to cover up their lack of quality with sarcasm and negativity.

I love it when the journalists try to act smart by using the word "showpiece" for New Town or Salt Lake or Sector V.

ashindia

December 10th, 2010, 07:57 AM

JSW to develop Football Stadium

At its Annual General Body Meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, the national federation tied up with JSW Steel Limited to renovate the BFS and Rabindra Sarovar stadium in Kolkata.
:cheers:

“JSW, which is owned by Sajjan Jindal, will take over the stadiums in the next three-four months,” AIFF president Praful Patel told reporters after the AGM. “By next year we will be having two-three good stadiums owned by the state bodies or the AIFF. Jindal has also been appointed the chairman of I-League.”

Hailing the decision, AIFF vice-president AR Khaleel told Deccan Herald that project was part of a wider plan to improve the infrastructure in the country. “India has hardly any world-class footballing venues. It is one of the primary reasons why the national team trains in Dubai.

“To start with, we picked facilities that are owned by State associations. The plan is to have world-class structure that includes permanent bucket seats, floodlights, media centre etc. The coast of rebuilding each stadium is estimated between Rs 100 and 125 crore.”
:banana:

“Similar to the ongoing FIFA Goal Project work at Bangalore, the project will be funded by JSW while AIFF will be involved only in the construction part. JSW has shown great interest in revamping the image of football and AIFF is happy to co-operate,” added Khaleel.

Asked if the FIFA Academy will be affected by the renovation, Khaleel said there is no reason to worry. “The Academy as well the artificial pitch will be untouched. Samples were taken to check the strength of the other three wings -- northern, eastern and western. Once the sample results arrive -- expected in the three week’s time -- decision will be taken on whether to raize or rebuild on the existing structure.”

Patel also said that Mukesh Ambani had shown his interest in developing infrastructure at Mumbai’s Cooperage stadium, which is embroiled in a public interest litigation (PIL). “The PIL is nearing its end and Mr Ambani has personally shown interest in developing infrastructure at the Cooperage.”

Meanwhile, AIFF sold its telecast and marketing rights to Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)-International Management Group (IMG) for Rs 700 crore for a period of 15 years.

“We are confident that this deal will contribute to the development of Indian football. I have spoken to Ambani and he is personally interested in developing infrastructure for the game in the country,” he said.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/119509/jsw-develop-football-stadium.html

studdmanster

December 10th, 2010, 09:41 AM

cc: TT

Eden Gardens’s World Cup makeover has entered the slog overs with everything from floodlights to furniture in the final stages of overhaul ahead of a pitch inspection by the International Cricket Council on Thursday.

The 17-year-old floodlights, the first to be installed in a cricket ground in the subcontinent, are being finally replaced with more powerful — and yet power-efficient — lamps designed to generate luminance suitable for high-definition television coverage of matches.

“We decided to go in for a complete overhaul after learning about an improved Philips variant of bulbs now available abroad. The old lights have been taken off and the new ones (worth Rs 4 crore) will be installed over the next few weeks,” Biswarup Dey, the joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), told Metro.

Officials said the new, improved Eden would be match-fit latest by January 15, a fortnight beyond the December 31 deadline and with just over a month to go for the first Cup tie at the ground on February 27.

Come the Cup, every other cricketer’s favourite turf will look brighter but not necessarily livelier. The lung power of a lakh could be missed the most as the Eden Gardens has shrunk from an 89,000-capacity stadium that would hold more to a 60,000-capacity one. The trade-off is comfortable seats in place of the knee-scraping concrete galleries.

Apart from replacing the galleries and redoing the toilets, the CAB is overhauling the players’ rooms — from the layout and the furniture to illumination and air-conditioning.

Another addition to the stadium is a row of 34 air-conditioned corporate boxes that seat 20 people each. The boxes have a television and a refrigerator each, along with the option of watching the match from an adjoining balcony.

“These boxes are tucked between the lower and upper tiers and are designed to give both an indoor and outdoor feel to patrons. The 16 boxes closest to the Club House can be booked for Rs 70 lakh each and the 18 boxes on the sides for Rs 60 lakh each for a period of 10 years,” said joint secretary Dey.

For die-hard Eden fans, what would matter the most, however, is that the Cup matches are held without a hitch.

The floodlights had gone from being Eden’s pride to Eden’s shame when two successive matches of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008 were disrupted by a blackout.

A third blip occurred on December 24, 2009, during the one-day match between India and Sri Lanka. The loss of face — the ground was in darkness for 26 minutes just after Ashish Nehra had sent down the second ball of the final over before the innings break — triggered the switch to generators as the primary source of power for subsequent matches.

Sadhan Mukherjee, the CAB expert on tower lighting, said the switch from alternative to direct current had since ensured that the metal halide lamps didn’t blink on account of a power fluctuation.

“The new lights are much more powerful than the older 220 volt-range single-ended filament 2kw metal halide lamps. They are all 400-volt double-ended filament 2kw metal halide lamps, designed to provide illumination of 2,500 lux (vertical) on the pitch, 2,000 lux in the 30-yard-circle and 1,500 lux across the outfield,” Mukherjee added.

The old lights at the Eden Gardens were capable of generating a maximum of 1,200 lux at the centre of the ground, against the ICC standard of 2,000 lux on the pitch, 1,750 lux in the inner circle and 1,500 lux across the outfield.

“In November 1993, when the old lights were first used, the level of illumination on the pitch was 1,600 lux. But the power declined to 1,200 lux over the years,” Mukherjee revealed.

Eden Gardens’s first match under lights — a Hero Cup encounter against South Africa in 1993-94 — is, of course, fondly remembered by fans for that thrilling last over bowled by Sachin Tendulkar with only six runs to defend. Sachin, ever the match-winner, bowled India to victory.

According to experts, a vertical luminance of 800 lux was good enough for a cricket match in the ’90s but the advent of HDTV and a six-fold increase in the number of cameras used for live telecast necessitated double the old illumination requirement.

The ICC’s illumination rules took effect this year.

Consultant Mukherjee said the number of bulbs in the four Eden towers was down by 38 per cent — from 864 to 536 bulbs — despite the increase in illumination capacity. “We are going to save 700kw of power that way,” he added.

avishar

December 11th, 2010, 05:19 PM

The blacktop has worn off on a number of stretches of the EM Bypass between Science City and Patuli, causing frequent accidents, but the CMDA refuses to undertake repairs, according to cops.

Officers of the South East traffic guard of Calcutta police, manning the Bypass since September, said they had sent at least four reminders “through the proper channel” to the CMDA to re-lay the damaged parts of the tarmac but did not receive a response.

Here’s a look at the Bypass stretches with the deepest trenches.

Tagore Park

After a near-fatal accident on November 25 evening, residents made police officers on duty in the area stop a concrete mixer truck plying down the EM Bypass and pour quick-drying material on the trench here.

“A kid had been flung off while he was riding pillion on his father’s motorcycle and sustained serious injuries in his head and arms. Residents put up a blockade and said they would not leave the spot unless we fixed the crater immediately,” recounted a sergeant.

The stretch has not been levelled after the patchwork, angering residents and commuters even more.

“The spot was cordoned off with branches. By next morning, a bumpy white patch had replaced the gaping hole,” said Arghya Neogi, a motorist who regularly crosses the stretch.

Panchannagram

“We try to provide a green corridor here. If you get a green light at the Ruby crossing, you will keep getting greens at the next few signals and can reach the foot of the bridge near Science City without stopping. So motorists are generally moving at a high speed when they spot the craters in the middle of the road and struggle to control their vehicles,” said an officer of the traffic guard.

“This is such an important thoroughfare with such a lot of traffic. How can the CMDA take things lightly and keep the roads in this state?” the cop said.

There are treacherous trenches in the north-bound flank between Uttar Panchannagram and the Science City roundabout that need to be repaired immediately, said motorcyclist Adarsh Agarwal, a resident of VIP Bazaar.

Avisar-Ruby rotary service road

This is the service road motorists going north should take if they want to turn towards Gariahat at the Ruby rotary. Many choose to brave the signal at the roundabout instead of the craters at the two ends of the service road.

“Rickshawpullers who operate from the stand nearby try to fill the holes with rubbish but that is not a solution and the holes just keep expanding,” said Bishwanath Biswas, who drives an autorickshaw on the Ruby-Fern Road route.

Hiland Park-Ajaynagar service road

The craters at the Santoshpur-EM Bypass intersection of the service road are the deepest.

Motorcycles and even rickshaws topple over trying to negotiate the stretch, just longer than 20 metres.

“There are accidents almost every day. The number of accidents increases in the rainy season when the potholes get filled with rainwater and cannot be seen in the dark,” said a local trader.

Minister’s version

“There is a plan to pave the entire stretch from Ultadanga to Ruby and beyond with mastic asphalt and also widen it at places. The work will start soon. The engineers are perhaps not repairing the roads now because the other project is scheduled to start soon,” said Asok Bhattacharya, the state municipal affairs minister.

“I do not know if we have received any complaint from the South East traffic guard of Calcutta police. My engineers would know. But if the condition of the road is really bad, I will ask them to repair it at once,” the minister promised.

The CMDA chief engineer (traffic and transport) could not be contacted.

Other citys are building smooth expressway grade ring road after ring road and here the EM bypass which is the only high speed connector and pretty much the citys backbone is in such a deplorable state.

Kolkata badly needs more and more newer roads spanning the outside of the city.

Ideally there should be a ring road starting from Budge Budge to DH road,then skirting the outside and coming to Kamalgazi crossing.Then use the EM bypass till chingrighata.Upgrade the Byepass to altleast 8 lanes all the way,with the same road quality like what we find on the GQ.

From chingrighata go past sector V use the Rajarhat main road and then build a road going straight up behind the eastern border of the airport connecting to the NH 34 at madhyagram and terminating at the start of the
Kalyani expressway.

And it doesnt even require hare brained schemes like an "elevated ring road".
A simple high quality signals less 4-lane road will be enough.And oh yes build connectors to the city at periodic intervals.

What say good idea?

arijeetb

December 11th, 2010, 05:51 PM

Other citys are building smooth expressway grade ring road after ring road and here the EM bypass which is the only high speed connector and pretty much the citys backbone is in such a deplorable state.

Kolkata badly needs more and more newer roads spanning the outside of the city.

Ideally there should be a ring road starting from Budge Budge to DH road,then skirting the outside and coming to Kamalgazi crossing.Then use the EM bypass till chingrighata.Upgrade the Byepass to altleast 8 lanes all the way,with the same road quality like what we find on the GQ.

From chingrighata go past sector V use the Rajarhat main road and then build a road going straight up behind the eastern border of the airport connecting to the NH 34 at madhyagram and terminating at the start of the
Kalyani expressway.

And it doesnt even require hare brained schemes like an "elevated ring road".
A simple high quality signals less 4-lane road will be enough.And oh yes build connectors to the city at periodic intervals.

What say good idea?

^^KMDA is bankrupt, it is a near sick company. I know a director within the company and he stated that they are laying off staff in a bid to save money. While BRT was approved sometime back, I do not think they have even floated out the tender :ohno: So I do not see anything happening on the bypass anytime soon.

I just hope they release the funds to complete the parama island elevated corridor, Nagerbazar flyover, VIP flyover (proposed) and Vivekananda flyover (phase 01).

shoumendu ray

December 11th, 2010, 06:18 PM

Gentlemen,
Thanks a lot to all of you for posting such informative articles along with brilliant photographs. Great job indeed. Request if anyone of you has any status updates (including infrastructure developments too) on SANJEEVA TOWN DUPLEX ESTATE. Any photographs would be welcome too. Thanks again. You can reach me at shoumendu.ray@gmail.com

studdmanster

December 12th, 2010, 06:07 AM

Other citys are building smooth expressway grade ring road after ring road and here the EM bypass which is the only high speed connector and pretty much the citys backbone is in such a deplorable state.

Kolkata badly needs more and more newer roads spanning the outside of the city.

Ideally there should be a ring road starting from Budge Budge to DH road,then skirting the outside and coming to Kamalgazi crossing.Then use the EM bypass till chingrighata.Upgrade the Byepass to altleast 8 lanes all the way,with the same road quality like what we find on the GQ.

From chingrighata go past sector V use the Rajarhat main road and then build a road going straight up behind the eastern border of the airport connecting to the NH 34 at madhyagram and terminating at the start of the
Kalyani expressway.

And it doesnt even require hare brained schemes like an "elevated ring road".
A simple high quality signals less 4-lane road will be enough.And oh yes build connectors to the city at periodic intervals.

What say good idea?

Brilliant Idea!!!!..add to that flyovers at all intersections and some more in the city at important junctions..:banana:...but sadly as stated by arijeet KMDA, or to be more precise all the Govt agencies, incl. PWD lacks money. state govt has money to spend on vote banks but sadly cannot spend money on basic infrastructure!!!:bash:...and dont expect that things gonna change in the coming years too!!!:ohno:

vineetarora

December 13th, 2010, 05:55 AM

http://savenewtown.blogspot.com/2010/12/welcome-to-mamataland.html

Souvik_N

December 16th, 2010, 12:05 PM

Tata Housing under CAG cloud
Rajat Roy & Ishita Ayan Dutt / Kolkata December 16, 2010, 0:45 IST

Questions raised on discrepancies in land rates in West Bengal.

Tata Group’s plans in Bengal have gone awry, once again. It’s not just Tata Motors, but Tata Housing Development Company’s (THDC’s) projects, too, have hit a wall.

THDC had spun big real estate plans — a 600-acre IT and residential project in the Bhangore Rajarhat Area Development Authority, on the outskirts of Kolkata. Not just that, in neighbouring New Town Rajarhat, the company had to settle for 26 acres compared to the original 50 acres for a residential project, at rates higher than that prevailing at that point in time. The first project got buried on the drawing board.

What has made matters worse is that the company is now confronted with issues raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The issues range from subsidising land to cross-subsidising the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) for the proposed Nano project in Singur.

Tata Housing (THDC) paid an average of Rs 10.74 lakh per katha for 26 acres, above the average rate of land in 2006, going by the price quoted in the CAG report. But THDC managing director and chief executive officer, Brotin Banerjee, says the price of land had to be rationalised according to the location of the plot. The project plots are situated in the interior and should not be compared with plots on the main road.

The CAG report mentions that the average land price during the time was Rs 7.86 lakh per katha. The CAG report, however, said that Tata Sons, the holding company of THDC, got land at prices lower than the average rate and, hence, Hidco, the nodal agency for distributing and developing land in the area, suffered a loss.

Also, Tata Sons paid Hidco Rs 69 crore and Rs 100 crore to the WBIDC, which was responsible for creating infrastructure in the area as well as acquisition and development of land at Singur.

Why was WBIDC paid Rs 100 crore and not Hidco? The company says, for all practical purposes, Tata Housing concluded the deal for the land at Rajarhat with the government of West Bengal wherein negotiations for the same were led by WBIDC.

CAG observed, “The revenue to be earned by WBIDC out of the JVC would enable WBIDC to meet the state government’s commitment of providing infrastructural assistance to Tata Motors for its proposed small car project in West Bengal, without having to resort to budgetary support.”

THDC disagrees. “The Rajarhat land transaction was not associated with any deal, which Tata Motors Limited may have entered into in West Bengal,” Banerjee said.

“The transaction was formalised with the knowledge and consent of both WBIDC and WBHIDCO. We paid Rs 10.74 lakh per katha, which we believe is a fair price,” he said, adding that there was no plan for a joint venture with WBIDC.

Incidentally, WBIDC was supposed to build infrastructure in the neighbouring area, which was to house the 600-acre IT cum residential project.

Suncity

December 16th, 2010, 01:36 PM

^^
Somebody please explain this Tata CAG report in simple English.

Tata Housing (THDC) paid an average of Rs 10.74 lakh per katha for 26 acres, above the average rate of land in 2006, going by the price quoted in the CAG report. But THDC managing director and chief executive officer, Brotin Banerjee, says the price of land had to be rationalised according to the location of the plot. The project plots are situated in the interior and should not be compared with plots on the main road.

The CAG report mentions that the average land price during the time was Rs 7.86 lakh per katha. The CAG report, however, said that Tata Sons, the holding company of THDC, got land at prices lower than the average rate and, hence, Hidco, the nodal agency for distributing and developing land in the area, suffered a loss.

So CAG is saying the rate for land in Rajarhat was Rs 7.86 lakhs per katha. THDC paid Rs 10.74 lakhs per katha. So how did the state make a loss?

Also WBIDC and WBHIDCO are both govt entities. So if one got 69 crores and the other 100 crores what's the big deal in real terms?
The 600 acre IT-housing project is new to me. Any idea what project the reporter is talking about? Is the scrapped IT Park. How are the Tatas connected to that? What is the relationship to the CAG report?

Is the New Town project getting affected because of the CAG report?

The journalist has left too many unanswered questions and the reporting is pretty vague.

studdmanster

December 16th, 2010, 02:35 PM

^^it seems TATA and GOI is trying hard to proove "kisme kitna hai dum!"...since the time Neera Radia came in picture!!!:cheers2:

anan355

December 16th, 2010, 03:51 PM

^^
Somebody please explain this Tata CAG report in simple English.

The journalist has left too many unanswered questions and the reporting is pretty vague.

Perhaps the journalists are confused...whom to blame...WB Govt or the Tatas?

I think the 600 acre IT park was the one which got scrapped in Bhangor...I forgot the name of it...Kolkata IT Links or something like that..... had never heard that Tatas were involved in it....

I had read somewhere during Singur fiasco...I dont remember the source......that one of the sops that WB Govt gave to Tatas for setting up the nano plant was land at cheap rate in Rajarhat.... perhaps CAG is trying to say...since the TATAs did not build the factory ...why would they be given chance to get land at cheap rates....

During Singur crisis, even though many RTIs were filed, WB govt never revealed what were the sops that they gave to TATAs. Lets see whether CAG report can dig that out.

As far as TATAs are concerned, after Radia tapes , they are now in the same league as Ambanis.

anan355

December 16th, 2010, 03:52 PM

Times of India jounalists are as usual, confused about what misreporting they can feed to the masses...

studdmanster

December 16th, 2010, 04:24 PM

anan355

December 16th, 2010, 04:42 PM

@ anan355: can the State govt ask for/set up a CAG reports?(i have no idea on CAG other than the abbreviations)
as cited by you if the said IT park is the same that was in news when vedic village was ransacked, then RTI must be filed against the two esteemed reporters of TOI for reporting wrong infos!!!

No idea boss.
As far as I know, RTI is for only getting info from the Govt.
So pvt companies can be spared.
You can get the details here.
http://rti.gov.in/RTICorner/Guideonrti.pdf

Wrong Infos are nothing man.
In Nira radia case, TOI reported not even the iceberg fearing that TATAs would stop advertisement.

Suncity

December 16th, 2010, 06:38 PM

That report is not from TOI but from Business Standard. That's why posters are always requested to provide a link.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tata-housing-under-cag-cloud/418469/

Suncity

December 16th, 2010, 06:43 PM

In Nira radia case, TOI reported not even the iceberg fearing that TATAs would stop advertisement.

Isn't she talking about one of the Ambanis?

Excerpts of some stuff that caught my eye

Ratan Tata and Radia

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268082

NR: Round II of the telecom battle has started. I don’t know how many more battles there will be.

RT: I’m surprised that Raja after all that you supposedly did for him is playing this game.

NR: They’ll do all this drama but I don’t think there’ll be 3G auctioning before March next year. They’re not gonna do it in a hurry. And the only reason they want to do 6.25 (MHZ) for Anil (Ambani) is so that he can get AT&T to buy into his company. AT&T is talking to him right now, Ratan.

RT: I see...

NR: Yeah, coz he needs an equity partner otherwise he can’t survive with the debts he’s got. His avenues have closed unless he fudges some other things and raises money.

RT: Why isn’t all this exposed?

NR: Ratan, they’re buying up the media. They’re using their buying power with the media. For every ad they place...I can’t tell you the discussions I have had with the media, in particular the Times Group and Dainik Bhaskar—the Aggarwal guys who you met....

RT: Yes...

NR: They say, Niira, every time we do a negative story on them, they withdraw advertising. So, I said, fine, others can also withdraw advertising.... They leverage every dollar of their mediaspend to ensure they don’t get negative publicity. The media is very, very greedy....

SSCaddict

December 16th, 2010, 06:46 PM

^^ wow!!!!!! can i have conversations of radia and all others sun(just give me a link)

i knew it.... now i am sure aaj tak and times now are also being bought by BJP
:nuts:

Suncity

December 16th, 2010, 06:51 PM

Perhaps the journalists are confused...whom to blame...WB Govt or the Tatas?

I don't know if they are confused. But I am after reading their report.

And nowadays CAG is like the mother of holy cows in India. Who oversees honesty of CAG?

:lol:

SSCaddict

December 16th, 2010, 06:51 PM

okay okay i got it.. it is in the post you posted :doh:

Suncity

December 16th, 2010, 06:52 PM

^^ wow!!!!!! can i have conversations of radia and all others sun(just give me a link)

i knew it.... now i am sure aaj tak and times now are also being bought by BJP
:nuts:

Excerpts were out in Outlook and another magazine (forgot the name). But one has to remember that excerpts are always selective.

Suncity

December 16th, 2010, 06:59 PM

During Singur crisis, even though many RTIs were filed, WB govt never revealed what were the sops that they gave to TATAs. Lets see whether CAG report can dig that out.

You have a list of RTIs that the WB Govt didn't respond to?

I did hear that in one case the Tatas went to court to stop publications of some of the information.

I wonder if someone can force Mamata and Trinamool to publish details of her 400 acres of farm land and a list of farmers, their land claims and exact land location and area where this claim is being made for.

avishar

December 16th, 2010, 07:28 PM

Sorry for going very OT but i was scouring the net for more of those tapes but there has been an almost media blackout of those tapes.

Has anyone else found other transcripts?Could you please post a link?

PS i had found the link with all the transcripts.I am also a member of Team bhp.com a forum for car lovers in India and one of the largest in india.In their "shifting gear" section like our "chaibar",i had created a thread and was posting the conversations when the admin deleted it!!

I can understand newpaper websites not reporting them,but a public forum deleting it!

studdmanster

December 17th, 2010, 06:19 AM

Isn't she talking about one of the Ambanis?

Excerpts of some stuff that caught my eye

Ratan Tata and Radia

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?268082

NR: Round II of the telecom battle has started. I don’t know how many more battles there will be.

RT: I’m surprised that Raja after all that you supposedly did for him is playing this game.

NR: They’ll do all this drama but I don’t think there’ll be 3G auctioning before March next year. They’re not gonna do it in a hurry. And the only reason they want to do 6.25 (MHZ) for Anil (Ambani) is so that he can get AT&T to buy into his company. AT&T is talking to him right now, Ratan.

RT: I see...

NR: Yeah, coz he needs an equity partner otherwise he can’t survive with the debts he’s got. His avenues have closed unless he fudges some other things and raises money.

RT: Why isn’t all this exposed?

NR: Ratan, they’re buying up the media. They’re using their buying power with the media. For every ad they place...I can’t tell you the discussions I have had with the media, in particular the Times Group and Dainik Bhaskar—the Aggarwal guys who you met....

RT: Yes...

NR: They say, Niira, every time we do a negative story on them, they withdraw advertising. So, I said, fine, others can also withdraw advertising.... They leverage every dollar of their mediaspend to ensure they don’t get negative publicity. The media is very, very greedy....

thanks 4 d link and excerpts, was looking for these for a long time...:cheers2:

Suncity

December 18th, 2010, 01:08 AM

ABP reports that the Trinamool Congress run Kolkata Municipal Corporation is putting a spanner in an IT Park Development. This was to be the first IT Park developed by KMC and the project was started by the Left Front. Alas! Another project could become a victim of the politics of "NA" and "NO" in the state.

SarafIndian

December 18th, 2010, 04:32 AM

There is no need for IT, telecoms, powerplants, steel, automobiles sectors. Momota to generate 2 lacks jharudar, coolie, motorman, station masters railway jobs all over Bengal..:D

ABP reports that the Trinamool Congress run Kolkata Municipal Corporation is putting a spanner in an IT Park Development. This was to be the first IT Park developed by KMC and the project was started by the Left Front. Alas! Another project could become a victim of the politics of "NA" and "NO" in the state.

anan355

December 19th, 2010, 04:15 PM

^^ wow!!!!!! can i have conversations of radia and all others sun(just give me a link)

i knew it.... now i am sure aaj tak and times now are also being bought by BJP
:nuts:

If you want detailed conversation details, look for the latest version of the OUTLOOK magazine. OUTLOOK and OPEN are the 2 magazines who came up with the transcripts of the Nira Radia tapes. Outlook has talked about the 2nd round of tapes....around 800 of them.

@Sun, in latest copy of OUTLOOK, you will find reports that how TATAs have donated generously for a hospital in Raja's constituency and about the role of Vir Sanghvi.

anan355

December 19th, 2010, 04:19 PM

You have a list of RTIs that the WB Govt didn't respond to?

No Man I dont have a list.

I did hear that in one case the Tatas went to court to stop publications of some of the information.

Tata was trying to convince the court that publishing Radia tapes is a breach of privacy and no more tapes should be leaked after the first round. After this, OUTLOOK came out with the transcript of some fresh tapes.

anan355

December 19th, 2010, 04:23 PM

Suncity

December 19th, 2010, 06:01 PM

What is the stupid reason they are giving?
Is it possible to give a link of the report?

No particular reason. Just politics as per ABP. The Mayor apparently was "too busy" to present his side of the story.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4662/kolkataitparkheldup.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/kolkataitparkheldup.jpg/)

Suncity

December 19th, 2010, 08:59 PM

Looks like we have be the land of Na and No for a long time

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ne251210125_WAYS_the_congress.asp

1956 SETS UP HIGH-CLASS MEDICAL EDUCATION

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) came up in Delhi after West Bengal said no. It has since grown into a trusted centre with a global reputation for cheap and excellent care. It’s become so popular that finding a doctor with time or a bed is next to impossible.

And all plans to set up one in West Bengal now seem to be going nowhere.

Leo_r

December 20th, 2010, 09:34 AM

Radiagate-Many links in this page-Juicy Gossip..

http://www.outlookindia.com/content.asp

niljee

December 22nd, 2010, 04:16 AM

UGL in Indian joint venture
December 22, 2010 - 10:24AM
AAP

Engineering firm UGL Ltd has joined with an Indian rail freight car manufacturer to establish a manufacturing facility in Kolkata.

UGL said on Wednesday it had signed a joint venture agreement with Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd, by which the two groups will set up a manufacturing facility at Texmaco's Belgharia Kolkata site.

The joint venture will supply rail wagons and locomotive bogie frames and platforms for the Australian and Indian markets from the facility.

Advertisement: Story continues below
Both companies would explore related rolling stock, maintenance and refurbishment opportunities, UGL said.

"The joint venture with Texmaco marks a significant development for UGL's domestic and international rail freight customers," UGL chief executive Richard Leupen said in a statement.

"Our presence in India continues to grow, and Texmaco is an outstanding partner for this long term commitment."

dreadathecontrols

December 22nd, 2010, 12:22 PM

dosent seem to be much project news in kolkata

Suncity

December 22nd, 2010, 03:30 PM

dosent seem to be much project news in kolkata

It's nearing election time. Looks like most forumers are more interested in that.

Plus Kolkatans mostly take "award winning style" photographs like oveflowing garbage bins, half complete idols in Kumartuli, Ami Pipasito in Kalighat, hand pulled rickshaws, tired looking faces and some sindur khela faces.

:lol:

Arijeet, Studd and a few others are trying to keep the flag flying here. We do have fewer folks than the Mumbai, Chennai or NCR subforums. But of late we do seem to be getting a lot of Kolkata forumers.

dreadathecontrols

December 22nd, 2010, 06:36 PM

yeah i remember a couple of years ago it seemed to be on the verge of something, but seems to have slowed
whats ami pipasito ?
went all latin american on me when i googled

Suncity

December 23rd, 2010, 12:55 AM

yeah i remember a couple of years ago it seemed to be on the verge of something, but seems to have slowed

The tempo of development may have slowed down a bit because of various factors. But also there are many large projects that are under development. The coverage of those kind of becomes boring till they complete. Examples are Kolkata West (supposedly one of India's first FDI townships), Sukhobrishti (India's largest lowcost township of its kind), Eden City, Calcutta Riverside.

whats ami pipasito ?
went all latin american on me when i googled

It means - I thirst. That's a famous icon of Kalighat / Mother Teresa home of the dying (http://andthishappens.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html). Almost every backpacker or missionary or social photographer worth his socialism will have a photo of that. It is just one of the many popular stereotypes of Kolkata.

dreadathecontrols

December 23rd, 2010, 01:52 PM

:cheers:

Suncity

December 23rd, 2010, 03:46 PM

I think this is Sunrise Towers (23 storey and 12 storey buildings) and I don't think we have had a photo of this project before

http://www.surekaproperties.com/proj_resi_towers.html

from a screen capture

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/1925/sunriseheightsbeleghat.jpg (http://img811.imageshack.us/i/sunriseheightsbeleghat.jpg/)

arijeetb

December 24th, 2010, 12:27 AM

Sometime back there was a report on a 4 star hotel in South Kolkata - Could this be the one ? This is u/c near Pantaloons Gariahat

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1523/gariahathotel.jpg

Suncity

December 24th, 2010, 01:35 AM

Some other commercial projects in the park street/camac street area under construction.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6303/dsc00485ou.jpg

This is the new WBIDC (West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation) office called Protiti. Who knows next year it may be demolished or converted into Save Farmland Committee Headquarters.

:lol:

Suncity

December 24th, 2010, 02:27 AM

Where in Sector V?

SLS Towers

http://www.multiconrealty.in/sls_towers.html

B+G+16 floors

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3255/slstowerskolkata.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/slstowerskolkata.jpg/)

vineetarora

December 26th, 2010, 07:47 AM

http://savenewtown.blogspot.com/2010/12/any-given-sunday.html

studdmanster

December 27th, 2010, 08:55 AM

Work for spencer Hypermall??? in progress at CESC Godown, on Syed Amir Ali avenue!
cc: me
http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/38/dsc01462.jpg

studdmanster

December 27th, 2010, 09:03 AM

any idea regarding this building?...it is coming up on the opposite flank to the CESC godown
cc: me
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6623/dsc01468w.jpg

gaurab68518

December 27th, 2010, 11:42 AM

Nice to see updates of kolkata but updates are very less.

niljee

December 27th, 2010, 12:12 PM

Nice to see updates of kolkata but updates are very less.

Will be so I guess till the middle of next year...unless of course Didi decides to carry forward the legacy :)

mountaincloud

December 28th, 2010, 02:27 AM

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101228/jsp/calcutta/story_13356195.jsp

House motion a boost for Rajarhat
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The Assembly on Monday passed a motion for speedy implementation of projects in New Town, reinforcing the government’s attempt to develop the township where the politics over land acquisition has intensified in the run-up to the 2011 Assembly polls.

With the Opposition — primarily the Trinamul Congress — vowing to nail the government for alleged forcible acquisition of land in Rajarhat, the government tried to send out signals that it was determined to remove the political hurdles impeding the development of the showpiece township.

The state government, led by housing minister Goutam Deb, has toughened its stand on carrying on with the development of Rajarhat since Mamata Banerjee launched an agitation demanding “justice” for the farmers whose plots had been taken over for the township.

The beleaguered Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government had recently allotted a 50-acre plot to IT major Infosys — companies like Wipro and Accenture already have plots in the township — in an attempt to force the Opposition on the backfoot.

The Opposition parties —Trinamul with its absence from and the Congress with its presence in the House — however, made it clear that the acceptance of the motion would not automatically ensure New Town’s development.

Manas Bhunia, the leader of the Congress legislature party, demanded that the farmers who had given up land for New Town should be compensated at current market rates.

During discussions on the motion, Deb said it was impossible for the government to accept the demand. “There is no law that says that the owner from whom a plot had been acquired in 1994 at Rs 1,500 a cottah should now be given Rs 1 lakh a cottah because that is the current price.”

As Trinamul continued with their boycott of the House, their leaders did not take part in the debate.

“We will get certified copies of today’s proceedings and discuss the issue among ourselves before deciding on the next course of action,” said Opposition leader Partha Chatterjee, who accused the government of denying Rajarhat landlosers their due.

In the past two years, Trinamul’s support base in Rajarhat has grown with the party cashing in on the discontent over compensation among a section of the farmers. During a rally in Rajarhat last month, she had rolled out a plan to launch an agitation to ensure a better deal for the farmers.

“It seems the Opposition parties have landed themselves in the Rajarhat quagmire and they don’t have any exit route,” said Deb, who promised to hand over to the Opposition a detailed document of the companies that have taken plots in New Town.

arijeetb

December 29th, 2010, 01:47 PM

Work for spencer Hypermall??? in progress at CESC Godown, on Syed Amir Ali avenue!
cc: me
http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/38/dsc01462.jpg

^^thanks studd:cheers: this beast (Spencers Galleria) is slowly taking shape! As a proof of that one can see large tracts of cement sprewn along Syed Amir Ali avenue. The completion of the science city-parama island elevated corridor will be a boon for this mall inviting people from the eastern fringes.

avishar

December 29th, 2010, 02:57 PM

Kolkata West International City, promoted by Prasoon Mukherjee and the controversial Indonesian company which was involved in the Nandigram chemical hub project, is nowhere near completion after five years

While driving down from Durgapur and Burdwan to Kolkata, along the Kona Expressway, just before entering the state capital, you will pass a pristine white gate with a high arch and black wrought-iron horses at the top. It's the landmark for the sprawling 400 acre Kolkata West International City (KWIC) which has been coming up for some years now.

This view hasn't changed much in five years. One of the biggest real estate projects in the country-perhaps the biggest-financed by foreign direct investment (FDI), KWIC is far from being completed and numerous plot owners who have a stake in the project are sorely disappointed at being left in the lurch.

KWIC had promised to hand over 900 bungalows by the end of 2008, or the first quarter of 2009, in the first phase, but it has managed to complete only 200 till now. Today, the company is finding it difficult to persuade the owners to occupy their bungalows which stand in the middle of a vast stretch of uninhabited land, devoid of basic infrastructure.

The management had admitted its helplessness over the delay in the completion of the project and is paying 3.5% interest to buyers on the amount they have paid for the properties they have booked. That's little solace for people who have taken large loans at pretty high rates to buy flats, bungalows and commercial units in the range of Rs25 lakh to Rs1 crore.

Now, the company says that the project will be finished by 2012-all the 6,100 bungalows and flats, a road network, amenities like parks, gyms, shopping centres, and also schools and hospitals.

The delay has been attributed to the pullout from the project by co-developers Ciputra Group and Unitech. But serious questions have also been raised about the poor quality of the construction work being undertaken.

Prasoon Mukherjee of Singapore-based Universal Success Enterprises, which is promoting the project together with Indonesia's Salim Group, says the work was stalled due to a lack of funds. But activist Harish Maheshwari points to the company's balance sheet for the year ended March 2010, which shows a profit of Rs21 crore.

In a letter to Moneylife, Mr Maheshwari says, "The share capital and application is Rs48 crore, secured loans are Rs58 crore and unsecured loans are Rs5 crore. Against these the fixed assets are Rs9 crore. The current assets and liabilities ae Rs101 crore and the loss is Rs1 crore. Despite not even 2% of the project being complete, the company has been able to reduce its losses of Rs22 crore in March 2008 to Rs1 crore in March 2010. In other words, it has earned a profit of Rs21 crore in two years on just 2% of the project."

When the properties were booked back in 2006-07, most of the customers had paid the amount in full, so they are surprised at the excuse of a funds crunch. KWIC officials were not available for comment.

There is another problem for the Howrah Municipal Corporation. Back in 2007, the civic body had agreed to supply two million gallons of water from the Padmapukur reservoir to KWIC, despite its inability to supply sufficient water to most other parts of the city. But with the project largely incomplete and not occupied, the municipal corporation is losing huge revenues.

There is also an issue involving the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) which has leased out a vast stretch of land for only Rs96 crore. A KMDA official said, "Yes, the project has been delayed, but it will be completed soon. I don't know about the details of the land lease agreement, the documents will have to be searched."

KWIC was West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's dream initiative. It is important to mention that the Salim Group, promoters of KWIC, had also planned the chemical hub in Nandigram, where land acquisition for that project set off tragic violence three years ago.

Already disgraced in Nandigram and Singur over the Tata Nano project, it is very unlikely that the Left Front government will do anything to rescue KWIC before the state elections that are due in a few months and this could see the project immobile for a while longer, like the rusted horses that stand frozen, mid-motion, atop the gateway to the proposed city.

Looks like the salim groups grand plans in bengal are faltering one by one.Sad.

studdmanster

December 29th, 2010, 03:55 PM

^^thanks studd:cheers: this beast (Spencers Galleria) is slowly taking shape! As a proof of that one can see large tracts of cement sprewn along Syed Amir Ali avenue. The completion of the science city-parama island elevated corridor will be a boon for this mall inviting people from the eastern fringes.

Btw, will this mall b only for Spencer's or there would be other retailers too!!...cuz the land and the company is both of RPG group!!!

dreadathecontrols

December 30th, 2010, 06:50 PM

Btw, will this mall b only for Spencer's or there would be other retailers too!!...cuz the land and the company is both of RPG group!!!

i guess it will be like other spencer malls, what ever they're like

vineetarora

January 1st, 2011, 08:52 PM

http://savenewtown.blogspot.com/2011/01/sankalpa-update-on-new-years-day.html

studdmanster

January 2nd, 2011, 06:25 PM

cc: TT

If 2010 had begun with a rare blue moon eclipse, 2011 could be the year of a once-in-a-blue-moon political baton change for the city. Metro gives the low-down on what else the New Year holds for the Calcuttan — from watching World Cup cricket in a new-look Eden Gardens to commuting faster and safer by Metro

AIRPORT

Fasten your seatbelts, the airport that Calcutta is ashamed of promises to be its pride by the end of 2011. How the state-run Airports Authority of India intends working this 12-month miracle after years of slovenliness is, of course, anybody’s guess.

On paper, the Rs 2,100-crore modernisation project is set to be completed by December, giving the city a 1.95 lakh square metre integrated terminal with the capacity to handle 20 million passengers annually. Also in the blueprint — but far from implementation — are frills like walkalators, underground car parking and food courts to cater to every palate. A business terminal for non-scheduled airlines and private jets is also set to open its doors to the rich and the famous by the year-end.

So what else could an airport need and fliers want? Basic facilities like easy terminal access, hassle-free check-in, speedy security check and foolproof safety, all of which are currently missing.

Airport officials promise that the inline baggage X-ray system will become operational in the first half of 2011 while the Category I Instrument Landing System will be installed in the next quarter. The rapid taxiway meant for speedy transit of landing aircraft has just been completed and will be opened soon.

ICC WORLD CUP 2011

Unless one is excited about watching Ryan Neil ten Doeschate bowl to Maurice Ouma, the Calcutta leg of the World Cup could begin and end on February 27 for most.

The Eden Gardens hasn’t seen much international action lately — just one Test and one ODI each in over three years — and there isn’t much to look forward to either except India versus England in the first of the four matches awarded to the ground this World Cup. The other three matches involve Ireland, Holland, Kenya and Zimbabwe with South Africa being the odd team out in the battle of the minnows.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Information technology may be experiencing login errors in its promised land, Rajarhat, but big boy Infosys has indicated that it could start operating here as early as by the end of 2011. Accenture, a global leader in management consultancy and technology services, has also announced plans to start its city operations in a few months.

The New Year is also set to be a landmark one for e-governance in a state playing catch-up with the rest of the world after years of resistance to change. In January, the government will open a State Data Centre in line with Delhi’s directive to create a storehouse of digitised data.

Also in the pipeline are a State Portal Service and State Service Delivery Gateway for secure inter-department exchange of data. Anyone requiring official information can access the data through various Citizen Service Centres.

EDEN GARDENS

You might miss the apocryphal roar of a lakh but you certainly won’t miss the knee-scraping concrete galleries. And, yes, no more embarrassing blackouts in the middle of a six-runs-to-get-and-three-balls-to-go over.

Come the World Cup, a refurbished Eden Gardens — albeit smaller in terms of seating capacity, maxing out at 60,000 — promises to give fans a better ground experience than any they have had in over seven decades of international cricket in the city.

The floodlights are all new and the seating arrangements comfortable with a chair for every ticket. The Cricket Association of Bengal has also promised clean toilets and food courts with affordable yet quality fare in all the blocks. The upshot is that tickets are dearer, with the lowest-priced seat for the India-England match costing Rs 1,200.

For the corporate crowd, there are 34 executive-class boxes with private balconies and various five-star frills.

The players too will have overhauled changing rooms, complete with saunas to relax their strained muscles.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Work-in-progress is a sign the city will see a lot of in 2011 with a slew of ongoing projects set to be speeded up and several new ones launched.

The EM Bypass, which has become more of a snarl-prone thoroughfare than a high-speed corridor, will be widened from the Parama rotary till Garia as part of a Rs 320-crore road project scheduled to get underway in end-January. In the first phase, one lane will be added to the existing road from the Parama rotary till Ruby. Two lanes are to be added later to the stretch from Ruby till Garia.

The Bypass will also be extended to Paddapukur, in Baruipur. The multi-lane road currently tapers off into a narrow stretch from Kamalgazi More in Garia. The extended 9km stretch could be ready as early as in mid-2011, say officials.

If roads are being added, can flyovers be far behind?

The north-bound arm of the AJC Bose Road flyover is likely to be thrown open to traffic soon, while the VIP Road-EM Bypass flyover is ready for inauguration on January 6. The Birati-Sodepur connector is to be opened the next day.

Three under-construction flyovers — at Nagerbazar and on Vivekananda Road and Park Circus — are expected to be near-complete, if not ready for use, by the end of the year.

The bad news is that construction means more commuting pangs in a city where traffic management is poor for the most part. Police have already identified VIP Road, Nimtala Ghat Street and the EM Bypass as the pressure points.

METRO RAILWAY

If 2010 dented Metro rail’s reputation as the most reliable mode of transport in the city, 2011 will be its year of redemption, promise Metro Railway officials.

Two more air-conditioned rakes — minus the glitches that had stalled the first two within weeks of their inauguration — are to be added to the ageing fleet by March 2011. Radio-frequency identification gates will replace the existing turnstiles across the 23 stations in phases and a new automatic signalling system will be installed, allowing trains to move faster without compromising security.

HEALTHCARE

Most of the action will be in the private sector with the 600-bed Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital in Belghoria being the lone state-run facility in the 2011 inauguration list.

Several private hospitals are going in for expansion with AMRI coming up with a 275-bed facility for women and children in Mukundapur. The hospital is also opening a new 45-bed unit in Salt Lake.

A 20-bed coronary care unit of RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences in Salt Lake will become fully operational during the year, while Apollo Gleneagles is setting up a 100-bed gastroenterology and a 70-bed minimal access surgery unit each in its existing campus on the Bypass.

Ruby General Hospital will have a new 150-bed facility with radiotherapy, cath lab and other units adjacent to its Bypass campus. Fortis Hospital will add another 300 beds to its Anandapur hospital.

education

Presidency University vice-chancellor Amita Chatterjee, who got gheraoed by students over an exam conducted by Calcutta University a month into her new job, will be taking the final autonomy leap and framing her institution’s own academic curriculum this year.

Calcutta University is poised to start a web communication networking system connecting it with all affiliated colleges and campuses. A lecture in one centre can be transmitted simultaneously to all the colleges connected to the system. Bengal Engineering and Science University will be upgraded to an Institute of National Importance and rechristened the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology.

Jadavpur University will set up the Tagore Institute of Cultural Inquiry to conduct research on art and culture.

Two new international schools — Oaktree International School in Joka and Akademia International School off Diamond Harbour Road — are set to open this year.

SMART SIGNALS

A smart signalling system that is touted to be the answer to most of the problems plaguing traffic management in the city will finally be in place this year.

According to Lalbazar, the Area Traffic Control System will be ready for use at 30 busy crossings — including Theatre Road, Park Street and Central Avenue — by the middle of January. More signals will go smart over the next few months.

The system works through networks where all the signals are connected. The cycle of a signal along a particular stretch is worked out based on the feeds available from a “virtual loop” involving camera images of traffic at a particular point and a “ground loop”, where underground sensors calculate the vehicle count. These feeds are analysed, based on which the best possible cycle time of a signal on one point is fixed.

MULTIPLEXES

Low footfalls may have forced the giant-screen IMAX to shut shop but plex biggies like INOX and Fame are set to flex their muscles with a slew of new properties in 2011. Standalone cinema Hind, which has been turned into a two-screen multiplex called Hind-Fame, will open its doors later this month. Salt Lake will get its third multiplex in Broadway, a four-screen property spread over 30,000sq ft in Sector III. INOX Liluah, a three-screen property, will commence operations by March. Cinemax is also slated to go beyond Mani Square and open a four-screen multiplex in Salt Lake by mid-2011.

MUSIC

Whether you are a headbanger, pop-lover or soft-song loyalist, 2011 promises to pack in sounds for every music-loving ear. The year kicks off with a three-day international Sufi festival under the February sun that will have artistes from nine countries, including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Jordan and Syria, belting it out on the Nicco Park grounds. That apart, top singers like Sunidhi Chauhan and Kailash Kher will hop in and out of the city playing to college and festival crowds.

Bangalore-based singer-songwriter Anupam Roy of Amake amar moto thaktey dao fame is poised to release his first solo album in the first half of the year that promises eight tracks with a dash of “Brit rock”.

The Saturday Night Blues Band, the decade-old weekend band at Someplace Else, is all set to hit a new high with a opening act for five-time Grammy winner and blues legend Buddy Guy at the Mahindra Blues Festival in Mumbai next February.

A bunch of five young rockers called Underground Authority, who rapped their way from the Open Mic stage into India’s Got Talent, are working on an album tipped for an April release.

On the Bangla band front, Chandrabindoo has its 2011 roster full with a single and a video featuring Vidya Balan set to hit the airwaves in January. Keep your ears tuned to their Tolly soundwaves for Kaushik Ganguly’s Rang Milanti and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s latest. Cactus will hit the road with their old hits reworked and recycled. Fossils frontman Rupam will release an album titled Condition Free, an album recorded with street children and meant to help underprivileged kids.

Someplace Else plans to bring jazz back to where it all started with Monday nights dedicated to jazz and blues. In addition to their usual line up, the pub will host an alternative folk music festival in April.

HOT WHEELS

Vroom! Vroom! It’s a war out there in the luxury car segment with 2011 bringing a fourth player — Tata-owned British brands Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) — into the space so far dominated by the German troika of Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

The JLR showroom on AJC Bose Road, due to be inaugurated around February-March, will showcase both the Jaguars and Land Rovers.

The small car segment will also rev up when Japanese carmaker Nissan arrives in the city with its small car Micra that will be retailed from a new showroom due to be inaugurated in 2011. Nissan will also market its SUV X-TRAIL, its sedan Teana and its sports car 370Z.

MALLS

For those who believe in the magic of mall therapy, 2011 promises a bounty of brands to be showcased in swank spaces.

Several city malls, including South City, Forum and Forum Courtyard, will either expand or renovate during the year. South City will be adding a host of international fashion labels to its brand bouquet, while the fourth and fifth floors of Forum on Elgin Road will undergo major restructuring.

International chains like Spaghetti Kitchen and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf will be the new additions to Forum. The seating area in the food court and the terrace will also be expanded by at least 50 per cent, upping capacity to almost 400 covers. “The food court will sport a new look. It’s been almost eight years since we began, so the entire décor and furniture will be changed,” said Vidyut Saraf, the director of Forum Projects.

City Centre New Town, the newest mall on the block, is planning a host of changes, including a multi-level car park and some restaurants, including Blue Nile, Camelia Restaurant and Gama Lounge.

HOSPITALITY

More the merrier is the mantra in the hospitality sector. Several existing properties are set to expand and a few new ones will come up during the course of the year, giving the well-heeled Calcuttan and the visitor alike a wide choice.

Hotel Hindusthan International on AJC Bose Road has a new banquet and a revamped salon to offer while Chrome, on the same street, will be coming up with a 4,500sq ft sky bar in collaboration with FTV.

At New Kenilworth, Big Ben will undergo renovation from March and a new lounge bar will be ready “just in time for Puja”. Aromas Al Fresco, an outdoor 85-86 seater restaurant, will open around April-May.

Peerless Inn will start constructing a 47-room property on a 15-cottah plot adjacent to its premises on JL Nehru Road.

Swissotel is set to open an 8,000sq ft Indian restaurant called Durbari around March-April. A spa called Purovel Sport, spread across 5,000sq ft, along with a gym will open on the sixth floor. An executive lounge will also come up on the fifth floor.

REAL ESTATE

Spoilt for choice — that’s what the Calcutta property buyer will be in 2011 with the revival of the real estate market spawning a slew of premium as well as affordable housing projects. Several office spaces/IT projects will also be launched during the year, the biggest of them all being the 314-acre Bengal Shriram project in Uttarpara on a plot that belonged to Hindustan Motors.

Three premium projects are likely to be launched in Alipore by the Ideal Group. The Avani Group is planning to come up with a premium project on Ballygunge Circular Road, while Rahul Saraf of Forum fame will start a residential project on the Bypass, next to Science City.

PUJA

Puja organisers will get a day less to prepare post-Mahalaya as Panchami and Sashthi are on the same day.

Panchami-Sashthi also coincides with Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, which means an extra day off from work for government employees whose Puja holidays normally start on Saptami. But then, it won’t count as an “extra” holiday because October 2 is a Sunday.

NOT TO FORGET…. THE POLLS

The most-awaited Assembly election in 34 years of Left rule is likely to be held around April-May, finally putting to test the power of the poribortoner hawa (winds of change) that is supposedly blowing across the Bengal politicalscape. Voters at the 294 Assembly seats in the state will decide whether Mamata Banerjee will finally march into Writers’ Buildings giving

Bengal the first non-CPM chief minister in a generation or whether the hub of power in the heart of Calcutta will remain red inside out.

footballbengali

January 2nd, 2011, 06:54 PM

^^2011 is going to be a good one for Calcutta. All the best! :cheers:

studdmanster

January 3rd, 2011, 10:30 AM

the miniature of the upcoming HC Anexx building (to be built by PWD)
cc: me
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9477/image0869.jpg

studdmanster

January 3rd, 2011, 10:37 AM

the miniature of the underground car park at BBD Bagh
cc: me
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/270/image0870.jpg

studdmanster

January 3rd, 2011, 10:39 AM

Restello coming up at rajarhat near DLF building
cc:me
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8325/image0875.jpg

studdmanster

January 3rd, 2011, 10:41 AM

another view: will be made completely made of Steel. by srachi
cc: me
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/214/image0876.jpg

mountaincloud

January 3rd, 2011, 01:30 PM

the miniature of the upcoming HC Anexx building (to be built by PWD)
cc: me
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9477/image0869.jpg

terrible design! the architect should be given gonodholai. this building will ruin the feel of the area just like the new National Librray Annex buildings have done. Who are these people with gobor inside their coconut skulls?

studdmanster

January 3rd, 2011, 02:37 PM

:rofl:....well said, it hardly has any resemblence to the original building!!!...btw hv u sn the centenary building of HC!

mountaincloud

January 3rd, 2011, 02:41 PM

:rofl:....well said, it hardly has any resemblence to the original building!!!...btw hv u sn the centenary building of HC!

no, haven't seen the HC centenary building. is it another piece of art? i mean worse than this?

btw, it seems to me the same group of geniuses are involved in this project (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=69911205&postcount=387) as well. the team leader has made 10,000 papier mache miniature vehicles to showcase his/her talent (or one can say divert attention from the job in hand. you can see one of those (oddly) parked in front of this ugly building.

Suncity

January 3rd, 2011, 03:01 PM

That HC Annexe building is already built.

:)

avishar

January 3rd, 2011, 03:03 PM

@studdmanster Nice models,where did was it displayed?Some property show?

studdmanster

January 3rd, 2011, 03:31 PM

@ avisar: nare bhai, trade fair e!

studdmanster

January 3rd, 2011, 03:34 PM

That HC Annexe building is already built.

:)

Pakka???...i know about the centenary building!!!...cant say about this!!!...hv nt sn ths "masterpiece". btw, the miniature said proposed!!!:nuts:

Suncity

January 3rd, 2011, 03:51 PM

Pakka???...i know about the centenary building!!!...cant say about this!!!...hv nt sn ths "masterpiece". btw, the miniature said proposed!!!:nuts:

There is an exactly similar looking building between the Ayudh Bhavan and Centenary building. I think someone posted a photo recently.

Suncity

January 3rd, 2011, 06:04 PM

The tall building next to the centenary building

photo copyright sally steel

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9281/kolkatacourtsally.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/kolkatacourtsally.jpg/)

mountaincloud

January 3rd, 2011, 11:55 PM

The tall building next to the centenary building
photo copyright sally steel

Calcutta High Court designed by Walter Granville:

Image from Wikipedia
http://i52.tinypic.com/sgl9fn.jpg

Detail of a window (delete the e after flick):

http://www.flicker.com/photos/achuthanck/4808895600/

Suncity

January 5th, 2011, 04:02 AM

KMC plans revolving stage at Deshapriya Park

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/KMC-plans-revolving-stage-at-Deshapriya-Park/articleshow/7219704.cms

A revolving open air stage at Deshapriya Park. Sounds unbelievable? That's exactly what the Trinamool Congress-run KMC authorities have planned. The purpose? Promotion of folk music and drama. Besides, a martyrs' column in memory of the Bhasa Shahids' of Bangladesh will come up on the park.

According to KMC sources, while preparation for setting up the revolving stage is in full swing, the martyrs' column is nearing completion. It will be ready for installation in a month. Sources said a contractor with experience in building a revolving stage has been roped in.

Environmentalist Subhas Datta felt the decision to build a martyrs' column at Deshapriya Park could be wasteful expenditure. "Let us not inflict further damage to the park," he said.

However, the KMC brass was unmoved by such criticism. Debasish Kumar, MMiC (parks), said the civic body was gearing up to set up the revolving stage and install the martyrs' column. "We have decided to inaugurate the martyrs' column and the revolving stage on International Mother Tongue Day on February 21. It is a matter of pride for us that we have finally been able to keep our commitment," Kumar said on Tuesday. While the project cost for the revolving stage has been estimated at `20-`25 lakh, the martyrs' column will come up for `4-`5 lakh. The amount has been donated by Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee from her MPLAD funds, said a KMC official.

studdmanster

January 5th, 2011, 08:06 AM

cc: TNN

State urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya on Tuesday thanked mayor Sovan Chatterjee for making arrangements to ensure that Sector V gets five lakh gallons of water a day from Tallah immediately.
Bhattacharya however said they were facing problems executing a sewerage and drainage project listed under JNNURM in Salt Lake due to non-cooperation from the Bidhannagar Municipality.
Inaugurating the water supply and drainage system project in Sector V on Tuesday, Bhattacharya said they had also invited the mayor and railway minister Mamata Banerjee. “However, I knew they would not come. Both of them have also been invited for Wednesday’s programme also where the EM Bypass to VIP Road flyover will be thrown open,” Bhattacharya said.
The water supply and drainage system has been set up as a public-private-partnership among Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NDITA), Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) and Nabadiganta Water Management Limited, which is a SPV company of JUSCO Ltd & Voltas Ltd. (both Tata Enterprises). JUSCO is stakeholder of 74% on BOT basis in this project.

studdmanster

January 5th, 2011, 08:24 AM

cc: TT

The water treatment plant in Dhapa, being set up to supply filtered surface water to residents off the EM Bypass, will be ready in the next few months but it can’t be operated because of lack of pipes.

Sources said the plant, with the capacity to treat 30 million gallons of water daily, was likely to be ready by June but it would take at least another two years to set up the distribution network.

The planning and development department is building the plant while the distribution network is being set up by the water supply department. Officials said neither department is aware of what the other is doing.

Municipal commissioner Arnab Ray, however, denied any disconnect between the two departments. “Work on both projects is synchronised. Both will end around the same time in 2012,” said Ray.

Officials in the planning and development department said 45 per cent of the work on the plant was over and the rest would be wrapped up in another six months. If that happens, the plant will meet the initial deadline of 30 months set for the entire project (including the laying of pipes).

“Four motors that will pump water into the treatment units are likely to arrive in a week. Work on all the units is progressing,” said an official.

The distribution system comprises a 8km-long pipe that will bring water to the pump from Ma’er Ghat in Bagbazar and a network of 30km-long pipelines to distribute water from the plant.

The Rs 98.75crore project will distribute filtered surface water to Anandapur, Mukundapur, Patuli, parts of Santoshpur and Garia. “Most households, including large housing estates, in that belt use ground water. The underground water level, as a result, is declining fast,” said a civic engineer.

The project was sanctioned in 2006 but work could only start in December 2008 because of a court case. The case is on but the bar on the construction was lifted in 2008.

The initial deadline was 30 months, which the authorities said could not be honoured because of the series of glitches the project has suffered.

“The CMDA handed us a plot in Patuli to build one of the booster stations from where water from the plant would be distributed to households. But there are some problems regarding the land,” said commissioner Ray. He was unable to give any deadline by when the impasse would be resolved.

The earlier plan was to lift water from Mullick Ghat near Howrah bridge. “The collection point was later changed to Ma’er Ghat as the flow was much better there. Also, it would have been difficult to lay pipes to bring water from Mullick Ghat because of the surrounding busy roads,” said an official.

abhijitx

January 6th, 2011, 01:43 AM

The Telegraph (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2011/01/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Pc00207&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T): Say goodbye to the traffic chaos at Ultadanga. If you are heading for the airport, now you can zoom on this newly constructed flyover to VIP Road. And if you are travelling to the city from VIP Road, you can zip on the 1.29-km-long speedway to EM Bypass. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who inaugurated the flyover on Wednesday, acknowledged that how fast one can travel to the airport “is very important”. This flyover was necessary to bypass Ultadanga crossing, which gets impossibly clogged with 20,000 vehicles an hour during peak time. It took less than two years and 68 crore to build it.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_lP2m862e5Hw/TSUQBI5_I0I/AAAAAAAAAXo/i-w4cmc3JUM/untitled.jpg

anan355

January 6th, 2011, 04:58 AM

Do they have any plans of expanding VIP Road? This road becomes a bottleneck, particularly at the Kestopur Junction. Moreover except for a few places near Baguihati and Kaikhali, it has ample space for expansion.

Any updates on Jadavpur Thana flyover?

avishar

January 8th, 2011, 09:23 PM

A Kolkata-born doctor, who is part of the medical team that treats US President Barack Obama, has decided to do his bit for his native place by setting up a super-speciality liver research and treatment centre.

"I am planning to set up one of the best liver research and treatment centres in Kolkata. It will be an answer to all kinds of liver ailments," Prithijit Patrik Basu told IANS.

Basu, one of the three Indian doctors in the medical team that treats Obama, was born in the Ballygunge area of South Kolkata. He completed his MBBS from N.R.S Medical College here in the late 1970s and worked as a resident doctor with SSKM in the early 80s.

Asked what prompted him to set up a liver research and treatment centre in Kolkata, the doctor said: "Actually I wanted to do something for Bengal, for my Kolkata. It has been more than 25 years since I left Bengal. But Bengal as well as its culture is still alive in my heart."

Known in the medical fraternity as 'Pat Basu', he left for London in 1982 and from there shifted to the US in 1987. He is currently associated with the American Liver Foundation. Since 2008 he has also been serving as the leading liver surgeon in the medical team that looks after Obama's health.

Asked whether he ever had an opportunity to treat Obama, a smiling Basu said: "Thank god, till date I haven't had that opportunity."

The liver research and treatment centre is expected to come up by the side of the arterial Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in the city by next year.

The initial budget for the project will be Rs.100 crore (over $20 milllion). It will have various sub-centres in districts surrounding the metropolis. Each sub-centre will be inter-connected and also linked to the main centre through satellite technology.

"They will have both treatment and research facilities for medical students. It will be the best liver research institute in Asia. The institute will cater to patients from various neighbouring states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Assam. The institute will cater to poor patients," said Basu.

The proposed institute is also planning to have a helipad and helicopter facilities to airlift patients from remote areas. Basu said the centre in Kolkata will have a doctor exchange programme with medical establishments in the US.

Will help in increasing medical tourism to the city.

sabya99

January 9th, 2011, 02:24 AM

Kolkata educated doctor's have found places in medical boards of worlds politicians. Queen Elizabeth #2 , US President Regan and now Obama have Kolkata trained doctors in their medical team. The city should produce more medical graduates and nursing graduates and export them all arround the world.

abhijitx

January 9th, 2011, 04:43 AM

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIKM/2011/01/09/15/Img/Ad0150408.png

studdmanster

January 9th, 2011, 05:33 AM

cc: TNN

How many times have you felt deeply frustrated after being heckled and harassed by taxi drivers and touts on landing in the city? Horror stories of visitors and even local people at Howrah and Sealdah railway stations, airport and places like the Kalighat temple are rampant. Soon, there should be helping hands and a platform for victims to air their grievances. The state government is coming up with a 100-strong force — the tourist police — to deal exclusively with such issues.
“To begin with, the force will be deployed at Howrah station, Sealdah station, airport and Alipore Zoo,” state tourism secretary Raghavendra Singh said on Friday. The plan for a tourist police force on the lines of a similar force in Goa was originally mooted in 2003, but the plan never saw the light of the day. Later, city police took up the initiative to launch it with 180 constables, inspectors and sub-inspectors, headed by two additional commissioners. But this, too, never happened.
Now the tourism department, with funds from the Centre, is going ahead with the force which will have ex-defence personnel as recruits. “They will not have the power to penalise but they can always forward cases to the city or state police. Their main job would be to look into the wellbeing and pleasant stay of visitors so that they carry back a good impression of the city,” Singh said.
Special booths will be set up at places of tourist attraction like Kalighat temple, Victoria Memorial, Park Street, New Market and Sudder Street. If visitors are harassed or require any help, they can approach the tourist police with their grievances. “The force, which will require Rs 3 crore a year, will also keep a tab on tourist movement, which is essential from a security point of view,” said an official.

WHAT TO EXPECT

>Special booths will be set up at places of tourist attraction like Kalighat temple, Victoria Memorial, Park Street, New Market and Sudder Street

>To begin with, the force will be deployed at Howrah station, Sealdah station, airport and Alipore Zoo

studdmanster

January 9th, 2011, 05:36 AM

cc: TNN

The first ICC World Cup match at Eden Gardens — between India and England — is scheduled on February 27. With just 50 days to go, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) wants Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to help it on two fronts to boost spectator amenities at the Eden Gardens. CAB may have, however, woken up a little too late. KMC officials expressed doubts as to whether it would be possible to complete all the work in time for cricket’s grandest show.
First, CAB wants KMC to lay three sewerlines to combat waterlogging on the ground and in front of the Dr BC Roy Club House; it has also urged the civic body to lay a new water supply line and connect it to the existing one at the stadium so that spectators get clean water from the Palta water treatment plant.
Though drainage department officials assured the cricket body that efforts would be undertaken to set right a collapsing drainage system at the stadium, there was no hope on the water front. On Friday, a senior KMC water supply department official told TOI that there was hardly any scope for the civic body to lay a potable drinking water supply line by February. “We have our main water supply pipelines on Strand Road. It will be impossible for us to lay a fresh line till the Eden Gardens and connect it to our main water supply pipeline by February,” he said.
A KMC sewerage and drainage department team, led by MMiC (drainage) Rajib Deb, went to the Eden Gardens — now being renovated for the world cup — on Friday morning and took stock of the situation.
Though Deb said that efforts would be made to modernise the sewerage network, KMC drainage department officials felt it would be an uphill task for the civic body to relay drainage lines to the KMC network. “We have our drainage network at Town Hall. Now, if CAB wants us to connect its drainage network with the principal KMC network, they need to dig up the road till Town Hall, which is not only expensive but time-consuming as well,” said a drainage department official.
CAB wants the three sewerlines connected to KMC’s existing drainage network. After inspection, KMC drainage department chief engineer Amit Roy was briefed about the existing sewerage network in and around Eden Gardens and the future plans. CAB officials are particularly worried about the possibility of waterlogging outside the Club House. CAB secretary Biswarup De, who accompanied the KMC delegation, later said that the stadium was being remodelled and upgraded to international standards. “This is why we don’t want to compromise on infrastructure, such as proper sewerage lines or potable water,” he said. To combat waterlogging inside the cricket ground, CAB has laid a surface drain all round the ground. The drainage department officials sought detailed plans from CAB officials on modernisation of drainage lines around the stadium.

SamitB

January 9th, 2011, 07:15 AM

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIKM/2011/01/09/1/Img/Ad0010707.png

studdmanster

January 9th, 2011, 09:03 AM

^^what is an incubation center?

arijeetb

January 9th, 2011, 02:40 PM

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIKM/2011/01/09/1/Img/Ad0010707.png

I have seen the incubation center at Sector V and from what I see the ones at Siliguri and Durgapur are far larger and better looking. Good initiative to setup these centers however the state needs much more than these to encourage entrepreneurship and bring back talent in the state.

avishar

January 9th, 2011, 03:20 PM

^^what is an incubation center?

Incubation centres help in promoting entrepreneurship.

Supposing someone wants to set up a small company and has to start of with 10 people,he will need then just say 1,500 sqt.He cant buy such small floor space in big IT buildings so he can do so in these incubation centres,at i think a bit cheaper rate.

Also the incubation centres offer ready infrastructure like its furnished,IT ready,internet access in other words "plug and play".

avishar

January 9th, 2011, 04:23 PM

Hi people,sorry for being Off topic here

I shall be in kolkata from 11th to 23rd,so shall try to update as much as i can armed with my camera!

Will do a sector 5 update,its been exactly a year since the last time i did an update there,also will try to haul ass to rajarhat and do an update.
If anyone is free would love to meet up with you guys and maybe we can go to rajarhat and do a mega update(suncity,arijeet,studd?anyone)

Also if you guys can think of any project or building of which there has been very few pics & you need updates of do prepare a list and i shall try to do my best:)

Suncity

January 9th, 2011, 04:55 PM

(suncity,arijeet,studd?anyone)

Have a great trip. I am not in Kolkata nowadays.

studdmanster

January 9th, 2011, 05:28 PM

i have some pics of rajarhat taken on christmas evening!!!....yet to post them...:P...all night shots...!!!...@ avisar, l let u know!!!

Suncity

January 10th, 2011, 05:56 AM

Anyone seen this?

59 Park Street

http://www.jaingroup.co.in/jain_realty_projects.php

abhijitx

January 10th, 2011, 03:16 PM

Bridge’s armour from spit brigade Audit to assess damage
- Fibreglass hood commissioned to save steel pillars from corrosion

Howrah bridge is set to don fibreglass armour to save itself from spit-o-cracy.

Calcutta Port Trust, the custodian of the 67-year-old bridge that is part of the city’s Raj-era lore, has commissioned a private company to create a prototype hood for the 78 steel hangers whose base is being corroded by gutkha-laced spit.

Metro had reported in May last year how the collective spit power of pedestrians was compromising the safety of the city’s busiest bridge, which bears the weight of over a lakh vehicles on an average every day.

Project Protection was apparently delayed by financial problems.

“The financial issues have since been resolved and we are going ahead with the project. We have checked out various protective gear but the fibreglass solution appears to be the most feasible one at present. We have asked for the prototype in a month’s time,” said a port trust official.

According to the design specifications given to the company building the prototype hood, it will be a two-piece cover with an interlocking system. “A detachable cover will allow us to clean it regularly along with some gutkha spit that might seep into the base of the pillar,” the official said.

Forensic science experts endorse the idea, saying that fibreglass is less likely to be damaged than steel. “Slaked lime combined with catechu and tannin, which are all components of gutkha, form an organic compound that acts as a corrosive agent on a steel surface,” said a forensic lab official.

“But fibreglass is corrosion-resistant,” he added.

The base of all 78 hangers have suffered extensive corrosion with pedestrians treating the bridge as a giant spittoon.

Hangers help transfer the load of a bridge from the deck to the girders. So any damage constitutes a safety threat.

In 2007, all the hanger-base covers were replaced after they were found to have been damaged. A scan last year revealed that 50 per cent of the protective hoods had been eroded by spit, reducing the 6mm bases to half.

The port authorities are also planning an audit to assess the damage caused by vehicles ramming into the bridge’s structure. “The bridge has suffered extensive damage because of rash driving. We will hire an agency for a survey,” said an official.

There have been at least 20 instances of vehicles ramming into the bridge since 2008, when it came under high-tech camera surveillance.

Source: The Telegraph (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110110/jsp/calcutta/story_13395117.jsp)

rupakd

January 10th, 2011, 03:26 PM

Ramky Estates to foray into Eastern India

Ramky Estates & Farms, the real estate arm of the Hyderabad-based Ramky Group, plans to foray into eastern India in the next six months. The company was looking at creating two integrated townships in joint development with land owners in Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, together having a built-up area of about 7 million sft with an investment of Rs 3 billion. The company is likely to close the land acquisition deal, 100 acre in each of these cities, in the next six months.

rupakd

January 10th, 2011, 03:27 PM

WBGEDC begins construction of green building in Kolkata

The West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation, a state government initiative primarily aimed at promoting grid-connected renewable energy based power projects through the private sector, has begun construction of a green office building for the State Council for Science and Technology.

Located on a plot of land measuring 11.78 cottah at Salt Lake in Kolkata, the building is due for completion by 2012.

Earlier, the state Department of Science and Technology had selected WBGEDC for executing the `6-crore project on turnkey basis.

"The building's design focuses on efficient use of resources like energy, water and other materials during the construction period," Dr. S.P. Gon Chaudhuri, Managing Director, WBGEDC, told Projectmonitor.

"Suitable measures have also been taken to ensure that the building's impact on environment is minimum. The WBGEDC is responsible for design as well as construction of the building," he said.

In addition to adopting better operational practices during the construction period of the project, WBGEDC has drawn up plans to engage various unique green technologies for enhancing marketability of the building, reducing operational costs, improving indoor air quality, and increasing worker productivity.

Key features of the building will include rain water harvesting, sun-adjusted louvers, roof and wall insulation, load responsive AC, solar panels, terrace garden, and water and waste management.

"There will be 35 per cent energy savings in the building," said Dr. Gon Chaudhuri.

"The building will have a heat reflection shield on the outside wall. During the summer season, the shield will be kept closed so that it serves as a protection from heat and humidity. In winters, the shield will be opened to let sunrays in. Such type of a shield has never been used before for buildings in India," he added.

According to the Indian Green Building Council, a green building is one which uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building.

mountaincloud

January 11th, 2011, 05:03 PM

http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/prince-charles-dream-for-india-a-new-town-78712

London: Prince Charles wants to build an eco-friendly shanty town near Kolkata or Bangalore for 15,000 poor Indians, inspired by the one he saw in Oscar-winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire', a media report said.

The multi-million-pound venture plan includes schools, shops and 3,000 homes in a tiny area the size of 14 football pitches, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

In fact, the heir to the British throne plans to turn a 25-acre swathe of Indian wasteland on the outskirts of either Kolkata or Bangalore into a "mini oasis in the desert", to be modelled on Poundbury, the Dorset model village that has been Prince Charles's 30-year pet project.

"When you enter (shanty town) what looks from the outside like an immense mound of plastic and rubbish, you immediately come upon an intricate network of streets with miniature shops, houses and workshops, each one made out of any material that comes to hand.

"We have a great deal to learn about how complex systems can self-organise to create a harmonious whole," the newspaper quoted the Prince as saying.

Prince Charles' charity Foundation for the Built Environment, which will open its first overseas office in Mumbai this year, will undertake the project in India.

sidney_jec

January 11th, 2011, 05:05 PM

omg :o
that movie is an inspiration now :ohno:
But heck.
Whatever's good.

Suncity

January 11th, 2011, 05:11 PM

But why build an ecofriendly "shanty" town? Why not just build a low cost, self sufficient eco friendly town for the low income people?

And poor Bangalore. It must be really upset on being bracketed with backward Kolkata.

:lol:

World8115

January 11th, 2011, 05:14 PM

I used to think of Oscars as fantastic and most fair awards until Slumdog swept the Oscars. I mean whats so good in the movie. There are several great movies releasing world wide everywhere every year

Marathaman

January 11th, 2011, 06:34 PM

why are you people so defensive? Let them try something new. Slums can be successful models for urban housing with proper hygiene and garbage disposal.

Suncity

January 11th, 2011, 06:45 PM

why are you people so defensive? Let them try something new. Slums can be successful models for urban housing with proper hygiene and garbage disposal.

If they are improving a shanty town that is fine. But why build a shanty town?

The problem lies in the completely confusing news report from NDTV.

This is the real news:

Princes Charles' new 'Slumdog Millionaire' eco Indian town inspired by Poundbury

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/8252038/Princes-Charles-new-Slumdog-Millionaire-eco-Indian-town-inspired-by-Poundbury.html

The multi-million-pound “utopia” is inspired and modelled on Poundbury, the Prince’s “model” village in Dorset.

It is hoped the 25-acre area of Indian wasteland on the outskirts of either Calcutta or Bangalore will be turned into “mini oasis in the desert”.

It is also envisaged to provide "low cost housing" for poor workers such as those featured in the shanty towns in the Hollywood film Slumdog Millionaire.

Officials say it will be “high-density but pleasant” development, the first of a series of eco-friendly projects on the subcontinent that are supported by the Prince’s Foundation for the Built-Environment.

The project, which will house more than 15,000 Indians, will include schools, shops and 3,000 homes in an area roughly the size of 14 football pitches.

The question though is where is 25 acre of wasteland on outskirts of Calcutta?

mountaincloud

January 11th, 2011, 06:48 PM

why are you people so defensive? Let them try something new. Slums can be successful models for urban housing with proper hygiene and garbage disposal.

agreed. we welcome everyone here, including Camilla's husband. Pounbury looks very pretty. someone please catch the prince. Let Bengaluru be defensive etc.

Marathaman

January 11th, 2011, 06:50 PM

If they are improving a shanty town that is fine. But why build a shanty town?

The problem lies in the completely confusing news report from NDTV.

This is the real news:

Princes Charles' new 'Slumdog Millionaire' eco Indian town inspired by Poundbury

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/8252038/Princes-Charles-new-Slumdog-Millionaire-eco-Indian-town-inspired-by-Poundbury.html

The question though is where is 25 acre of wasteland on outskirts of Calcutta?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poundbury

Honestly you people are getting a bit paranoid.

Suncity

January 11th, 2011, 06:59 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poundbury

Honestly you people are getting a bit paranoid.

Why paranoid? I am questioning (laughing at) the mis-reporting by NDTV. The Prince's charity is obviously not building a shanty town as wrongly claimed by NDTV.

Anything that helps the poor is a good idea. But in Kolkata there are obviously land issues. So that's the question I have. Where is this 25 acres wasteland? Are they talking about the Dhapa dumping ground?

Suncity

January 11th, 2011, 07:03 PM

Which project is this???

International Design Engineer on the Rise in India with three Major Contracts

http://www.businesswireindia.com/PressRelease.asp?b2mid=25323

International design engineer Web Structures today announced it has won three major contracts with leading Indian real estate developers to create the tallest residential skyscrapers in Northern India, in Pune and in Kolkata.

The three deals are a first in India for the civil, structural and geotechnical engineering firm which works partnership with leading international architects, including Foster + Partners, Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF) and Conran & Partners, to create iconic buildings across the world. Its team has also played a role in the Freedom Towers project in New York.

Developers in India are looking to Web Structures to help turn their plans into reality because of its world-leading engineering expertise in helping create tall buildings in earthquake zones.

Web Structures has been called in on an ambitious project for developer Ireo, to create North India’s highest tower - the 50-storey skyscraper at Victory Valley in Gurgaon, part of the NCR (National Capital Region).

Three towers form the residential centrepiece of a total gross 2,000,000 sq ft floor area on the development. They will give residents spectacular views across the region

Web Structures revealed it has also won the contract to work on a 30-storey luxury development in Pune for property developer Marvel Realtors. It will be the highest tower in the city.

The third Indian deal announced today is with Forum Projects, where its team will work on the developer’s plans for two 39-storey towers in the West Bengal city of Kolkata – linked by an amazing three-storey bridge with a jogging track and swimming pool in the sky. The luxury towers will have a 400,000 sq ft area, with stylish villas in the sky and the spectacular sky-bridge at the top of the development will span 60 metres.

The onky thing I saw in Forum projects website is something called Atmosphere.

http://www.forumprojects.in/forum_residential_upcoming/residential_upcoming.html

•Luxury Condominium
•5 lac sq.ft. of Total Area
•Total investment of Rs.300 crores
•Located on EM Byepass

And some more info here from The Telegraph

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101002/jsp/personaltt/story_13003102.jsp

ATMOSPHERE, CALCUTTA

This is a premium project planned by the Forum Group. Super-exclusive and luxurious, it will come up on the EM Bypass near Science City and will have villas stacked on top of each other. There will be two 125-metre towers, joined by a hanging sky-garden.

There will be heaps of amenities, including private gardens, lap pools and private elevators. Says Nirmal Lunawar, executive director, Forum Group: “Though it’s a niche concept, Calcutta has huge potential in terms of luxury projects.” Prices haven’t been decided yet but you can expect it to cost a few crores.

avishar

January 12th, 2011, 05:31 AM

So this must be the atmosphere itself that they are talking about.Forum had bought a parcel of land i think beside science city to build their "premium condo" project long time back.Then the recession hit and they had put the plans on the back burner.

studdmanster

January 12th, 2011, 07:24 AM

cc: TNN

Behala residents will get a prized new years gift simply for being mayor Sovan Chatterjees neighbour.Four fountains will soon dot Behalas Parnasree Lake.Three of these will float on the water while the lone fixed one will render musical tunes all day long.
Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee will lay the foundation stone for the project on Wednesday.Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will try to install these fountains in six months.
These fountains will make the already beautified lake even more attractive.While beautification work was executed under the Kolkata Environment Improvement Project (KEIP) funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB),the fountains will be installed from remnants of the same fund.When installed,the musical fountain will be akin to that of Citizens Park in the heart of the city while the floating fountains will be a first ever in the city.
A reputed public sector company has been roped in to instal the musical fountain.According to a KEIP official,Rs 3.5 crore has been allocated for the work.This apart,the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) parks department has developed a park next to the lake.Named after Swami Vivekananda,it will also be formally thrown open to citizens on Wednesday.
Local residents are elated at the prospect of having a musical fountain and a park in the locality.I have witnessed the gradual development of the park and the lake.Now,a musical fountain and three other floating fountains will be an added attraction for us, Sunirmal Saha,a retired government official and a local resident said.
The park,which has got a facelift,will draw hundreds of visitors to it,felt a section of the KMC parks square department.Apart from the newly done designer tiled footpath,plenty of playing apparatus will be an added attraction for people of neighbourhood areas.
However,former mayor Bikash Bhattacharya feels that spending Rs 3.5 crore on four fountains from KEIP funds was a sheer wastage and could have been used for improvement of environment.Is it worth the money spent Four fountains at a single venue,is that not incredible The funds could have been used for positive change rather than a cosmetic change of a particular area, Bhattacharya said on Tuesday.
A senior official of the KMC parks department said that after installation,these fountains would be handed over to the civic body for maintenance. According to a moderate estimate,we need to shell out Rs 80-90 lakh per year for maintenance of the fountains including its electricity bills, he said.
Floating fountains once graced only the worlds majestic places like royal palaces and state buildings.Now,however,they are no longer the preserve of the rich and famous and beautify public places like city parks and even shopping malls.

source: http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=4&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=TOIKM&mydateHid=12-01-2011&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI

arijeetb

January 12th, 2011, 03:13 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poundbury

Honestly you people are getting a bit paranoid.

^^:lol:Dude, nobody is getting paranoid. We at the kolkata forums feel amused and laugh out at mis-informed and/or inconsistent reporters/reporting once in a while.

arijeetb

January 12th, 2011, 03:16 PM

arijeetb

January 12th, 2011, 03:19 PM

Which project is this???

International Design Engineer on the Rise in India with three Major Contracts

http://www.businesswireindia.com/PressRelease.asp?b2mid=25323

The onky thing I saw in Forum projects website is something called Atmosphere.

http://www.forumprojects.in/forum_residential_upcoming/residential_upcoming.html

And some more info here from The Telegraph

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1101002/jsp/personaltt/story_13003102.jsp

^^this is signature stuff:cheers: Kolkata is slowly but surely getting into the big league. This is the next big one after Urbana. I also heard from a real estate consultant that Urbana II is supposed to be launched somewhere near the bypass.

arijeetb

January 12th, 2011, 03:21 PM

omg :o
that movie is an inspiration now :ohno:
But heck.
Whatever's good.

:lol: Feel bad for Bangalore. Hopefully this is not posted in Bangalore thread. If so, I would rather stay away from there.

studdmanster

January 12th, 2011, 03:57 PM

^^do we really need this ?? The restoration of the lake and surrounds have cost crores but looks like our jal shovon is more intend on keeping his constituency voters happy ( than the rest of the city!).

I passed by the area earlier today - fluttering TMC flags and soulful bangla music filled the area around the lake:lol:

hmmm...three years ago for the first time i visited parnashree when i saw this jheel, that time compared to other lake this was very clean and maintained!!...since then, whenever i visit this area, i see something or other has been added to the park!!!...now this...jol shovon's favourite lake it seems, working since he became councilor 4 d first time!!!...:lol:

studdmanster

January 12th, 2011, 04:01 PM

^^this is signature stuff:cheers: Kolkata is slowly but surely getting into the big league. This is the next big one after Urbana. I also heard from a real estate consultant that Urbana II is supposed to be launched somewhere near the bypass.

that's a great news..:cheers:..btw is there any progress at Urbana I?

arijeetb

January 12th, 2011, 04:26 PM

that's a great news..:cheers:..btw is there any progress at Urbana I?

^^I passed by the area a couple of months back and I could see cranes at the site. The infra i.e the Chowbhaga road is being widened on both sides of the project. There are plans to re-build/widen the stretch to Heritage/Meghnad Saha institute as well which is presently in shambles

Suncity

January 12th, 2011, 04:38 PM

:lol: Feel bad for Bangalore. Hopefully this is not posted in Bangalore thread. If so, I would rather stay away from there.

:lol:

Anyway Bengaluru or Bangalore - both have Bengal and Bangal in them.

studdmanster

January 12th, 2011, 04:53 PM

^^I passed by the area a couple of months back and I could see cranes at the site. The infra i.e the Chowbhaga road is being widened on both sides of the project. There are plans to re-build/widen the stretch to Heritage/Meghnad Saha institute as well which is presently in shambles

are these infra work been done by KMC or the developer?

arijeetb

January 12th, 2011, 05:20 PM

:lol:

Anyway Bengaluru or Bangalore - both have Bengal and Bangal in them.

^^yeah, quite literally. Apparently there are more than 50000 bengali familes living in blr, so it is a mini bengal out there.

Suncity

January 13th, 2011, 02:03 AM

Rajarhat finance hub draws big business

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Rajarhat-finance-hub-draws-big-business/articleshow/7272383.cms

Within three months of Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee laying the foundation stone of the project, the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) has decided to hand over plots to five nationalised banking and financial institutions that had submitted applications expressing an interest in setting up offices at the hub. More companies have also come forward with similar requests.

The five banking institutions that will get plots are State Bank of India,UCO Bank, United Bank, UTI Mutual Fund and Industrial Financial Corporation of India (IFCI). "These five financial institutions will be getting plots in the hub. The confirmation came through after the formal process in which their applications were received and replying sent to them. A few more financial institutions have also shown interest in setting up their offices in the hub. Their applications will be considered," said a Hidco official.

avishar

January 13th, 2011, 06:00 AM

Haute street,a new upscale mall and office complex in topsia.

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4738/dsc01405iq.jpg

PS Pace,another office complex on byepass

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3743/dsc01402lk.jpg

Suncity

January 13th, 2011, 06:19 AM

I think they need to something like Dhaka - cut all those cables (saw in the Dhaka Cityscape thread).

arijeetb

January 13th, 2011, 09:21 AM

Rajarhat finance hub draws big business

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Rajarhat-finance-hub-draws-big-business/articleshow/7272383.cms

^^What is the total size of the plots handed over? I am looking forward to SBI building another iconic structure here after Strand Road.

arijeetb

January 13th, 2011, 09:23 AM

are these infra work been done by KMC or the developer?

^^the consortium of developers have apparently shelled out > 6 crore to build the surrounding infra. I know Afcon infrastructure has a portion of the contract to re-build and widen choubhaga road

Suncity

January 13th, 2011, 03:54 PM

^^What is the total size of the plots handed over? I am looking forward to SBI building another iconic structure here after Strand Road.

I don't think plots have been handed over yet.

studdmanster

January 14th, 2011, 06:52 AM

cc: TT

Commerce student Niladri Basu was desperate for his “first look” of a “new, improved Eden Gardens” ever since a failed attempt to enter the stadium last November. The die-hard cricket fan finally managed to get past the gates on Thursday, only to be stumped by what he saw.

“I feel that the Eden Gardens makeover will not be complete before the first World Cup match on February 27. Worse, they might do some patch work in a hurry, in which case quality will be compromised,” said 24-year-old Niladri, an Eden regular.

Niladri narrates to Metro how his “excitement” over Eden Gardens’s promised transformation into a world-class cricket facility petered out at first glance and turned into concern as he took a tour of the stadium.

THE FIRST LOOK

I had expected construction to be complete by now and see the first coat of paint being put. I certainly did not expect to see bamboo scaffolding on the façade and construction activity all around.

I was also shocked to see a huge iron skeleton on the road in front of the B.C. Roy Club House. I later learnt that this was the frame of the shade for Block B.

CAB’s claim: The frame will be in place in seven days. It won’t take long to place the shade.

TOILETS & FOOD KIOSKS

Once I was past the gate, Eden was anything but a sight to behold. The concrete pathway to the staircase underneath the galleries was littered with mud and all manner of construction material, including sewage pipes.

The sight of a new, marbled toilet under the gallery, however, gladdened my heart. No Eden regular can be nostalgic about the stinking, overflowing toilets we have suffered all these years. The bad news is that the fittings are yet to be done and some of the other toilets are in various stages of construction.

Huge polymer water tanks are stacked on one side. When will these be installed? There’s hardly any time left.

I next walked towards the food courts. Spacious was the first thought that came to find. But again, will these be ready before the stadium roars to life on January 27?

As I walked down the pathway, a consignment of white sacks blocked my way. What could these be? “Chairs,” said a mason.

“What? Haven’t the chairs been fixed to the galleries?”

The mason pointed to the aisle between two galleries and said: “Go and take a look.”

CAB’s claim: We are working on a war footing and will be completing most of the construction by January 25, when an ICC team is due for a visit. We had asked for a grace period of one month and January 31 is the new deadline. We should be fine.

GALLERIES & GIANT SCREENS

I stared across the field and I saw blocks B and C — no chairs, no shades, just barren concrete with construction litter strewn all over. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were two shelters housing men and construction material on the lower tier where chairs should have been.

I scanned the other galleries and felt a little better. At least the blue and white chairs were in place.

If galleries B and C looked barren, the two giant screens in the makeover plan were nowhere to be seen. When I asked a worker about it, he pointed to a hollow iron frame.

CAB’s claim: Work is progressing slowly in the other World Cup stadiums as well, including the Wankhede (Mumbai) and M.A. Chidambaram (Chennai) stadiums. There are problems with the pitch and ground in Delhi (Ferozeshah Kotla). We are better off than the others, and we will be finishing work by the (revised) deadline.

CORPORATE BOXES

I had read about 34 luxury corporate boxes coming up between the upper and lower tiers and I wanted a sneak peek. As I looked around, I only saw walls and five boxes with a glass front each. So much for luxury!

CAB’s claim: Work on the corporate boxes has been a little slow. They may not be as luxurious as we had planned by February 27 but the basics will be in place.

DRESSING ROOMS

If there was anything to rave about during my recce, it was the sight of the players’ rooms. Plywood flooring, two huge plasma monitors each, a wall of tinted glass, variable flow of refrigerant air-conditioning, a massage corner and new washrooms with work-inprogress sauna baths — I am afraid the players might want to spend more time there than on the pitch.

I can’t wait for the Cup to begin but is the CAB thinking the same?

for pic look here

Suncity

January 14th, 2011, 08:36 AM

^^

The media has generally been muted on the delays with the stadium. Compare with fury over the CWG2010. Maybe the cricket boards have better friends in the media than poor Kalmadi.

arijeetb

January 14th, 2011, 08:44 AM

^^

The media has generally been muted on the delays with the stadium. Compare with fury over the CWG2010. Maybe the cricket boards have better friends in the media than poor Kalmadi.

India is the land of "jugad"; a few asses will be kicked around days before the first match and then things will fall in place. Thereafter authorities will find glory and pat their backs for completing such a mammoth task in a short time.

studdmanster

January 14th, 2011, 09:07 AM

^^this would be done only in feb, say around the time WC starts!!!...i hope BCCI is not in the making of CWG scam II...cz all the stadiums are almost in the same boat except DYP!

Marathaman

January 14th, 2011, 10:15 AM

studdmanster

January 14th, 2011, 11:13 AM

^^:hilarious..then there would have been a cold war between Pawar and Kalmadi!!!!...

SamitB

January 14th, 2011, 01:05 PM

Gee Pee in talks for tech sharing
KOLKATTA: Gee Pee Infotech , a 300-crore low-cost cellphone maker, plans to enter into technology partnerships with Chinese and Taiwanese wireless chipset suppliers - Spreadtrum, LongCheer and MTK - as it finalises plans for a 1000-crore cellphone manufacturing unit near Kolkata .

"We are in advanced discussions with Spreadtrum, Long Cheer and MTK to ink technology sharing pacts. They will help us design and assemble the cellphones at our proposed telecom park in West Bengal. We are yet to take a final call on whether the chipsets will be sourced from all three or just a single supplier," said Bijay Agarwal , managing director and founder of Kolkata-based Gee Pee Infotech.

Currently, the company sources cellphones from a clutch of original equipment manufacturers based in Shenzhen, China , and markets them here under the Gee Pee brand. It claims to be the first homegrown phonemaker to unveil the `full function touch phone'.

avishar

January 14th, 2011, 03:26 PM

Central Kolkata has in recent times been getting some nice tall buildings most of them luxury condos

I came across this one on ballygunge circular road,any idea whats this?Build by Avani group
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5702/dsc01442wy.jpg

Also this one,which i think is Tirumani by the mani group
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7022/dsc01449v.jpg

Other than that there are others like Empire Heights,Hiland Sapphire,Rameshwara project which have been rising out among the bungalows of posh areas.

Suncity

January 14th, 2011, 03:55 PM

Central Kolkata has in recent times been getting some nice tall buildings most of them luxury condos

Also this one,which i think is Tirumani by the mani group

[Other than that there are others like Empire Heights,Hiland Sapphire,Rameshwara project which have been rising out among the bungalows of posh areas.

Wow. I was going to request you to get a photo of Tirumani!

Thanks. My wishlist includes the Empire, Sapphire, Astral, Fort Oasis, Diamond South City, Cambridge, Belair, Eden City. Also last visit you had posted pictures of many smaller u/c buildings in the CBD area. Any updates on them would be great. Basically if you come across any interesting building while driving around just click it as you have been. No need to go out of your way to snap anything. Enjoy your trip.

:cheers:

avishar

January 14th, 2011, 04:01 PM

Empire,astral,sapphire i will get it soon,i was going to get it today but ran out of time.

Belair i updated last time,i dont think there will be any changes.But would love to go see the building myself.Problem is eto goli goli te ache,i never do seem to find bel air.

Eden city ta chaap ache.:(

Diamond city and cambridge and even the fifth tower of southcity hoe jabe most probably.

Oh yes a walk around of the small buildings of park street and cbd will be done.

Suncity

January 14th, 2011, 04:20 PM

studdmanster

January 14th, 2011, 04:38 PM

^^eden city r riverside hor hor govindopur-e!!!.:ohno:..i had bn tl nungi via, BBT, but ei 2to complex khuje paini!!!:(

Suncity

January 14th, 2011, 08:32 PM

^^eden city r riverside hor hor govindopur-e!!!.:ohno:..i had bn tl nungi via, BBT, but ei 2to complex khuje paini!!!:(

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2939/batanagarggl.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/i/batanagarggl.jpg/)

Suncity

January 14th, 2011, 08:44 PM

Central Kolkata has in recent times been getting some nice tall buildings most of them luxury condos

I came across this one on ballygunge circular road,any idea whats this?Build by Avani group
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5702/dsc01442wy.jpg

I think this is the one referred to here; I guess the Rahul Saraf one is Atmosphere.

cc: TT

REAL ESTATE

Three premium projects are likely to be launched in Alipore by the Ideal Group. The Avani Group is planning to come up with a premium project on Ballygunge Circular Road, while Rahul Saraf of Forum fame will start a residential project on the Bypass, next to Science City.

SarafIndian

January 14th, 2011, 08:52 PM

Nice update Avishar :cheers:

avishar

January 17th, 2011, 04:23 AM

This huge project is U/C on the howrah side beside the vidyasagar setu.Someone had posted a render of it sometime back.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5513/dsc01478a.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2163/dsc01479y.jpg

studdmanster

January 17th, 2011, 08:22 AM

^^riverside Mall????

avishar

January 17th, 2011, 02:59 PM

No not riverside mall,the Avani riverside mall is U/C near Foreshore road.This is a commercial tower.There was just a sign saying "adhunik".

Suncity

January 17th, 2011, 11:15 PM

It could be the HRBC Tech Park.

http://www.dmaindia.org/projects.html

debayanlahiri

January 18th, 2011, 06:22 AM

After Vivekananda Park in Behala, it's the turn of Jatin Das Park in Hazra to get a facelift. But there's a twist. The renovated park may have a two-storey building, including a cafe.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had praised the beautification of Vivekananda Park in Parnasree, near mayor Sovan Chatterjee's home in Behala. That was the cue for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to expand the spruce-up drive. Jatin Das Park is very close to Mamata's home in Kalighat.

The park is in a prime location but it is in a very poor condition because of neglect and encroachment. It is being used as a dumpyard for uprooted trees and iron pipes. There is no way local residents can enter it for a breath of fresh air.

KMC will begin by freeing the park of encroachment, say sources. Money will not be a constraint for the beautification project, said a KMC parks official. "The authorities have already sanctioned Rs 25 lakh. More funds may be passed," he added.

The walls will be demolished to give the park a good view from outside, say sources. A pay-and-use toilet, located just outside the park on the Hazra five-point crossing, may be demolished to clear more space. The outer pathway, known as typists' zone', will be converted into the main area of the park. "We will build a two-storey building inside the park to rehabilitate the typists. They can move into the ground floor while the upper one may have a cafe," Debasish Kumar, MMiC (parks) said. Morning walkers will get a tiled pathway and there would be plenty of playing apparatus for children, Kumar said.

A nursery, now lying locked, will be placed in the hands of trained KMC gardeners. "The work for beautification will start within a week," a KMC official said.

Read more: Hazra park on spruce-up list - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Hazra-park-on-spruce-up-list/articleshow/7307894.cms#ixzz1BMSigchC

mountaincloud

January 18th, 2011, 10:47 AM

rupakd

January 18th, 2011, 01:18 PM

CMDA mulls township transfer to civic body

The Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) wants to hand over a part of the East Calcutta Township to the civic body as it is unable to maintain the infrastructure for the burgeoning population.

The East Calcutta Township — stretching from the Nilachal housing estate in the west to Anandapur in the east, Avishikta in the south to the Chinese temple in the north — was developed by the CMDA in the 1980s.

The area comprised vast stretches of wetlands that were filled up and sold to developers.

Part of the township— comprising Hatisund, Rajdanga, Prantik Pally, Naba Pally, Anandapur and a few other pockets — was merged with the Calcutta Municipal Corporation in 1984 but civic infrastructure still remains the CMDA’s responsibility.

“We will hand over that part of the township to the civic body that has already been merged with it,” a CMDA official said, pleading anonymity.

“The area has witnessed a realty boom and a tremendous surge in population over the past 30 years. Consequently, the load on infrastructure — such as roads, drains and street lights — has also increased but we are not being able to upgrade it for lack of funds. So we have decided to transfer to the CMC the responsibility of maintaining infrastructure in a part of the township.”

Engineers of both organisations have carried out an inspection to calculate the cost of improving basic facilities, like sewerage and drainage, road and solid waste management.

“We are ready to take up the maintenance of the East Calcutta Township but the infrastructure set up by the CMDA is neither in good shape nor adequate. It was estimated during the joint inspection that around Rs 100 crore would be required to carry out the necessary upgrade. If the CMDA shells out the money, we are ready to take over the responsibility,” said mayoral council member (civil engineering) Firhad Hakim.

CMDA chief executive officer Vivek Bharadwaj said he had “in principle” agreed to pay the CMC but had asked for a reconsideration of the amount.

The report of the joint inspection states that the surface drains, roads and street lights are in a poor state. The sewage disposal system is primitive, with two ponds being used as sump-pits.

The area has 24km of roads, 47km of drains, nearly 700 lamp posts and two oxidation ponds for sewage disposal. The Telegraph

avishar

January 18th, 2011, 04:32 PM

@Suncity Thanks that is the HRBC tech park

Acropolis near ruby
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3607/dsc01702j.jpg

Unitech Chambers which is just across the road from acropolis
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6330/dsc01699aq.jpg

Ruby crossing where lots of new towers are springing up.The blue one is akash towe,and the white one is another commercial tower with the toyota showroom
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/613/dsc01679j.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1278/dsc01678r.jpg

Another office building just infront of acropolis.This i think is a PS project?
http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/5641/dsc01704v.jpg

Suncity

January 19th, 2011, 01:35 AM

^^

Thanks avishar for posting updates about so many projects.

Suncity

January 19th, 2011, 01:36 AM

Cognizant Solutions opens Rs 200 cr. facility in Kolkata

http://calcuttatube.com/cognizant-solutions-opens-rs-200-cr-facility-in-kolkata/138957/

Calcutta Tube / IBNS): IT services provider Cognizant Technology Solutions on Tuesday opened doors on its plush Rs 200-crore facility on the outskirts of city to expand its presence in Kolkata.

The firm already owns another office in Salt Lake Sector V, and started its Kolkata operations in 1996 with 16 employees. Today it employs 8,000 people in the city.
Placed in a 130-acre special economic zone (SEZ) in Bantala on the eastern fringe of the city, the first phase of the tech park was inaugurated by West Bengal industries minister Nirupam Sen and IT minister Debesh Das on Tuesday.
The 650,000-square-feet-building is built to house over 4,000 employees. When finished, the entire tech park will support about 16,000 workers.
The facility meets the strictest environment norms, and is a silver rated LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)-certified green building, a company official said.

Souvik_N

January 19th, 2011, 05:49 AM

Cognizant Solutions opens Rs 200 cr. facility in Kolkata

http://calcuttatube.com/cognizant-solutions-opens-rs-200-cr-facility-in-kolkata/138957/

Any pics for this office ??? heard that it has a sprawling design !!!!^^

Souvik_N

January 19th, 2011, 05:54 AM

Rs 107 crore environment plan for Bengal's Bantala SEZ

Source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rs-107-crore-environment-plan-for-Bengal-s-Bantala-SEZ/Article1-651963.aspx

The West Bengal government has prepared a Rs 107 crore plan to address the environment problems at Bantala special economic zone (SEZ) in the eastern part of the city, Industries and Commerce Minister Nirupam Sen said on Tuesday. "We were apprehensive whether investors would invest in Bantala SEZ, because of the environmental hazards caused by the tanneries located nearby. We are reluctant to have it happen where red category marked leather industries are located," Sen said at a programme.

"The investors and developers have faced lot of environmental problems. Even the Cognizant authorities complained that their employees are reluctant to come here because of non-friendly environment and poor infrastructure," Sen said at the inauguration function of the second campus of Cognizant Technology at Bantala.

He said the state government was concerned about the problem. "We are committed to address the problem at the earliest. A plan to renovate the common effluent treatment plants (CETP) and construction of solid waste management has been prepared by the government to resolve the problem at an estimated cost of Rs 107 crore," he said.

At present there are four CETPs, which are not running with full capacity due to lack of renovation. Two more CETPs will be constructed apart from setting up a solid waste management facility.

A plot of 60 acres has been identified for the solid waste management project and a guard wall will be set up to arrest the flow of water from the tanneries. The entire project will be completed at the earliest to improve the environment at the Bantala campus.

Sen said the state government will appeal to the union ministry of environment and forests for providing 70 per cent of the estimated cost as grant. The minister will take up the matter with the ministry officials in Delhi. "But even if the ministry refuses to fund the project, we will initiate the project at our own cost," he said.

After the tendering process, the project has been awarded to Ramco Environmental.

The minister also emphasised that foreign and domestic investors are doing good business here despite negative publicity in the media about the industrial growth of Bengal.

"Actually the foreign and domestic companies are doing good business. All of them are either undergoing expansion plan or have expanded their capacities."

Environment in the state is one of the major issues for development of the industries, said Sen.

Suncity

January 19th, 2011, 05:57 AM

Any pics for this office ??? heard that it has a sprawling design !!!!^^

I think ArijeetB posted a couple a long time back.

Here's one

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/4350859872/

Souvik_N

January 19th, 2011, 06:09 AM

I think ArijeetB posted a couple a long time back.

Here's one

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85296574@N00/4350859872/

Thnx Sun..have missed that before !!!

studdmanster

January 19th, 2011, 04:41 PM

@avisar thanks for updating us with all the u/c projects of Kolkata n suburbs!!!...:cheers:

Souvik_N

January 20th, 2011, 06:28 AM

@avisar thanks for updating us with all the u/c projects of Kolkata n suburbs!!!...:cheers:

In reality there are many projects going in and around Kolkata...we need someone like avishar to take snaps of those and update them here....Thanks a lot avishar for giving us a lot of refreshing updates :cheers:

avishar

January 21st, 2011, 06:32 AM

In reality there are many projects going in and around Kolkata...we need someone like avishar to take snaps of those and update them here....Thanks a lot avishar for giving us a lot of refreshing updates :cheers:

Thank you so much and everyone for the appreciation.

The amount of construction going on in this city is unbelievable.In every locality,neighborhood,goli that i have been to too there is some construction going on.Old buildings are being demolished,razed and new buildings are coming up.Real estate is a lucrative business and it has gripped the city like a storm.
And this is not just restricted to kolkata centre,but in howrah too and in outskirst like barrackpore,shyamnagar,naihati also.

Places like ruby crossing,topsia crossing,entire east kolkata,constrcution work is going on in a frentic pace.

Rajarhat is in another league of its own.I dont think there is anywhere in india where such a massive development work is going at a single place.

Kolkata is in a hurry,hurry to make up for the years of slumbering,and its catching up fast with the rest of them.

There is a change in the energy among people here.The young and the educated are no longer fleeing the city,in fact there many who are coming back.There is a huge increase in affluence,the roads are strewn with mercs and bmws,commercial spaces malls and hotels and restaurants are being built like there is no tommorow.

I travelled along the highways too,new factories have come up which has led to a tremendous surge in movement of trucks.The toll gate of the vidyasagar setu which is like 20+ lanes wide is clogged with trucks entering and leaving the city!

There is a wonderful dynamism in this city which just spurs me to walk and walk and look at everything.The architecture in the buildings many of which are being renovated and returned to past glory,the delicious food( i have added quite a few pounds) the people and woman;)

Dying city?This city is more alive than most other "happening " places in India.
Even between all the political wrangling and obstruction placed before it Kolkata is surging ahead fast.

Suncity

January 21st, 2011, 06:49 AM

Thank you so much and everyone for the appreciation.
....................

Ektu hoyto bariye bolchish. So what?

Many people (like sections of our 24X7 krondonroto media brigade) will be saddened by your upbeat comments about Kolkata. It is so out of fashion to say good things about good old Cal.

I on the other hand am not saddened.

:cheers:

mountaincloud

January 21st, 2011, 06:50 AM

Thank you so much and everyone for the appreciation.

The amount of construction going on in this city is unbelievable.In every locality,neighborhood,goli that i have been to too there is some construction going on.Old buildings are being demolished,razed and new buildings are coming up.Real estate is a lucrative business and it has gripped the city like a storm.
And this is not just restricted to kolkata centre,but in howrah too and in outskirst like barrackpore,shyamnagar,naihati also.

Places like ruby crossing,topsia crossing,entire east kolkata,constrcution work is going on in a frentic pace.

Rajarhat is in another league of its own.I dont think there is anywhere in india where such a massive development work is going at a single place.

Kolkata is in a hurry,hurry to make up for the years of slumbering,and its catching up fast with the rest of them.

There is a change in the energy among people here.The young and the educated are no longer fleeing the city,in fact there many who are coming back.There is a huge increase in affluence,the roads are strewn with mercs and bmws,commercial spaces malls and hotels and restaurants are being built like there is no tommorow.

I travelled along the highways too,new factories have come up which has led to a tremendous surge in movement of trucks.The toll gate of the vidyasagar setu which is like 20+ lanes wide is clogged with trucks entering and leaving the city!

There is a wonderful dynamism in this city which just spurs me to walk and walk and look at everything.The architecture in the buildings many of which are being renovated and returned to past glory,the delicious food( i have added quite a few pounds) the people and woman;)

Dying city?This city is more alive than most other "happening " places in India.
Even between all the political wrangling and obstruction placed before it Kolkata is surging ahead fast.

thanks for all the updates!!

In his book "Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power," Robert Kaplan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_D._Kaplan) predicts that Kolkata is going to be the next global city. He gives several reasons for this. Browse the book and take a look at the table of contents here:

http://www.amazon.com/Monsoon-Indian-Ocean-Future-American/dp/1400067464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295588405&sr=8-1#reader_1400067464

http://i56.tinypic.com/bis0wm.jpg

Souvik_N

January 21st, 2011, 06:53 AM

Thank you so much and everyone for the appreciation.

The amount of construction going on in this city is unbelievable.In every locality,neighborhood,goli that i have been to too there is some construction going on.Old buildings are being demolished,razed and new buildings are coming up.Real estate is a lucrative business and it has gripped the city like a storm.
And this is not just restricted to kolkata centre,but in howrah too and in outskirst like barrackpore,shyamnagar,naihati also.

Places like ruby crossing,topsia crossing,entire east kolkata,constrcution work is going on in a frentic pace.

Rajarhat is in another league of its own.I dont think there is anywhere in india where such a massive development work is going at a single place.

Kolkata is in a hurry,hurry to make up for the years of slumbering,and its catching up fast with the rest of them.

There is a change in the energy among people here.The young and the educated are no longer fleeing the city,in fact there many who are coming back.There is a huge increase in affluence,the roads are strewn with mercs and bmws,commercial spaces malls and hotels and restaurants are being built like there is no tommorow.

I travelled along the highways too,new factories have come up which has led to a tremendous surge in movement of trucks.The toll gate of the vidyasagar setu which is like 20+ lanes wide is clogged with trucks entering and leaving the city!

There is a wonderful dynamism in this city which just spurs me to walk and walk and look at everything.The architecture in the buildings many of which are being renovated and returned to past glory,the delicious food( i have added quite a few pounds) the people and woman;)

Dying city?This city is more alive than most other "happening " places in India.
Even between all the political wrangling and obstruction placed before it Kolkata is surging ahead fast.

Really feeling good and refreshing!!!!
Let all Bengalis including myself come back to our MATRIBHUMI and add some stimulations to it....lets make our Bengal a lovely place.(Pardon my excitement..just can't hold myself after reading avishar's comments specially the bolded one)

debayanlahiri

January 21st, 2011, 07:00 AM

^^ I second Sun's opinion.. Kolkata is a happening city and it always was.. Sadly, people never felt the need to promote the city! What is there in Mumbai / Delhi / Bangalore that is absent in Kolkata? Not much when it comes to the spirits of the people.. Only difference I feel is that the other cities have developed their suburbs (not just immediate suburbs, but distant suburbs) to a great extent so as to make the other cities look grand.. We at Kolkata have failed in doing so.. Also, we need more urban cities in our state and that "gram Bangla" image should go!

mountaincloud

January 21st, 2011, 07:05 AM

^^ lso, we need more urban cities in our state and that "gram Bangla" image should go!

oops... it is not an "either city or gram" kind of a forced choice we need to make, but an "and also" policy is what is needed.

gram bangla should always be there .. after all we (and large parts of East India) is in the gangetic delta -- one of the most fertile regions in the world.

SarafIndian

January 21st, 2011, 07:12 AM

Nice words avishar. :cheers:

sidney_jec

January 21st, 2011, 07:16 AM

:master:

I too had a similar if not the exact feeling last year when I visited the place.

Dying city? My ass. Certainly things have to be improved. Thankfully they are.

debayanlahiri

January 21st, 2011, 07:17 AM

The young and the educated are no longer fleeing the city,in fact there many who are coming back.

This is not entirely true.. Only the IT sector has helped some people fly back to the city.. I however feel that we should develop other industry sectors so that people from different educational backgrounds can survive in the city! There are little scopes beyond IT in Kolkata in terms of job opportunity!

sidney_jec

January 21st, 2011, 07:21 AM

debayanlahiri

January 21st, 2011, 07:23 AM

oops... it is not an "either city or gram" kind of a forced choice we need to make, but an "and also" policy is what is needed.

gram bangla should always be there .. after all we (and large parts of East India) is in the gangetic delta -- one of the most fertile regions in the world.

I completely agree with you.. What I was trying to point is the "gram Bangla" image that is prevalent and the media trying to potray it to the globe.. I understand that the villagers are poor in our state.. but why can't the farmers be rich as they are in Punjab.. So, I am opposed to the villagers being poor.. All I was trying to say is that they should be rich! They should grow..

Villages should have adjacent urban cities, which actually helps in the growth of villages!

Suncity

January 21st, 2011, 07:25 AM

This is not entirely true.. Only the IT sector has helped some people fly back to the city.. I however feel that we should develop other industry sectors so that people from different educational backgrounds can survive in the city! There are little scopes beyond IT in Kolkata in terms of job opportunity!

Let's see if the initial phases of the Financial hub in Rajarhat materializes in a couple of years. That will definitely give a boost to the economy.

debayanlahiri

January 21st, 2011, 07:28 AM

^^
Hospitality is growing, tourism is picking up pace, hectic construction activities (residential and commercial), there's a growth in infrastructure. A growth in jobs is inevitable if all this is happening

Compared to the population of Bengal, the volume is very low! Also, there are many more avenues that need to come in.. All categories must co-exist.. And all categories does not only mean variety in terms of choice, but also variety in terms of quality.. because people of various backgrounds should feel happy doing what they do..

debayanlahiri

January 21st, 2011, 07:29 AM

Let's see if the initial phases of the Financial hub in Rajarhat materializes in a couple of years. That will definitely give a boost to the economy.

Absolutely! :cheers:

Suncity

January 21st, 2011, 07:32 AM

I completely agree with you.. What I was trying to point is the "gram Bangla" image that is prevalent and the media trying to potray it to the globe.. I understand that the villagers are poor in our state.. but why can't the farmers be rich as they are in Punjab..

Too many farmers. Too little cultivable land in per capita terms. Plus a variety of other reasons like this one:

India's duller green belt

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/surinder-sud-india%5Cs-duller-green-belt/421344/

The NAAS report also details the allocation of central plan funds to the states right from the start of the planning era to bring out the bias against the eastern states. In the first Five-Year Plan, the per capita central plan expenditure was only Rs 27 in Bihar and Rs 58 in West Bengal, against the national average of Rs 109. The trend is no different in the 11th Plan — the per capita average plan expenditure in Bihar is Rs 6,575 and Rs 7,405 in West Bengal. This is much lower than the national average of Rs 13,187.

The government’s intervention in agricultural marketing to provide price support through official procurement also seems to discriminate against the eastern region. More than 80 to 90 per cent of total market arrivals of wheat in Punjab and Haryana were picked up by government agencies at minimum support prices. However, hardly any wheat was procured from Bihar till recently. Similarly, in the case of rice, Punjab accounted for an official procurement of over 80 per cent and Haryana more than 50 per cent. But there was no such procurement in Bihar. “This shows a strong regional concentration of government intervention in selected few states, and the farmers of Bihar were denied the support they deserved,” the report points out. The justification offered for this lack of adequate marketable surplus does not hold ground.

sidney_jec

January 21st, 2011, 07:32 AM

Compared to the population of Bengal, the volume is very low! Also, there are many more avenues that need to come in.. All categories must co-exist.. And all categories does not only mean variety in terms of choice, but also variety in terms of quality.. because people of various backgrounds should feel happy doing what they do..

yepp slow it is.

It should pick up pace after there some more positive sentiment build up.

Lets see if the change in power in the state would affect something.

avishar

January 21st, 2011, 07:46 AM

Suncity

January 21st, 2011, 07:52 AM

Also howrah too where once the foundry and small iron works were rotting and closing down one by one,is humming with activity.I know this because i live there.

Wow! Another Howrah guy.

:cheers:

SarafIndian

January 21st, 2011, 07:56 AM

^^ Ehh!! Howrah lobby :laugh:

sidney_jec

January 21st, 2011, 07:58 AM

hey thats getting pretty strong.
My aunt lives there :D
Near Belur

SarafIndian

January 21st, 2011, 08:07 AM

Hmm.. I love Howrah but it needs some serious makeover specially the core city

Forum Pravesh

January 21st, 2011, 08:22 AM

Guys I am also from Howrah (Liluah)
At Liluah we already have one shopping mall called RD Mall which was inugarated last month.At present Big Bazar and Dominos pizza opened there store in that mall.
On 26th january Inox will also open follwed by shoppers stop.
If possible I will upload some photos also.

sidney_jec

January 21st, 2011, 08:24 AM

naicee. :cheers:

Welcome aboard!!

arijeetb

January 21st, 2011, 09:00 AM

hey thats getting pretty strong.
My aunt lives there :D
Near Belur

^^hmm..I always wondered what your connection with this part of the world is :)

arijeetb

January 21st, 2011, 09:02 AM

sidney_jec

January 21st, 2011, 09:10 AM

^^hmm..I always wondered what your connection with this part of the world is :)

oh that connection is not the reason at all.
it is even despite them :)

arijeetb

January 21st, 2011, 09:19 AM

Yes kolkata is nothing to be snubbed at.And this growth is no flash in the pan too.Its not just dependent on software,IT exports are like just 5% of kolkata's GDP.Its basically a huge increase in consumerism.A consumer boom is taking place which is spurring growth,with an increase in disposable incomes.Primarily this growth is coming from outside the city core and stretching till the far suburbs.

I went to shyamnagar which is a good 50 kms from kolkata to visit a relative and there too everything is changing.High profile projects like Genexx Towers( which was well U/C) are spreading there.Lots of G+4 residential places,showrooms and banks and atms are coming up.

Absolutely nothing "gram" about these places anymore.With driveways filled with cars and split acs in buildings.

Also howrah too where once the foundry and small iron works were rotting and closing down one by one,is humming with activity.I know this because i live there.
A relative of mine wanted to open a new factory because of so many orders but said that here was no place anywhere,and any vacant land is being snapped up at sky high prices.Even Howrah which is probably like the worst and dingiest place imaginable is growing.I saw a 1 crore worth BMW 7 series parked in a lane the other day in howrah.

There are tons of industry around kolkata.Travel along any highway and you will see factories.Most of them are small to medium scale industries and these are going well.They may not hog the headlines but they provide large amount of employment.

With government increasing salaries and government being such a large employer it helps in spreading wealth.Also CBD/Park street,BBD bagh,AJC bose road the number of offices are increasing.In fact most of the redevelopment work i saw in central area is for commercial space.

Burrabazar and north kolkata area where so much trading takes place of goods coming and going in is buzzing with activity with small shops trading crores of goods each day.
Also retail and real estate are big drivers of the economy here.Real estate prices were not much affected by the recession and central kolkata rates are touching 15000/ft.

Its a mix of many things that helping this city grow.Its the time of plenty for kolkata.Every second car on the street has a small ribbon on its bonnet signalling that its just delivered.

Murir tin buses are fewer with so many new JNURM buses,modern comfy volvos all packed with passengers.Most of the autos which have switched to LPG are newer so are the taxis.Metro works,flyovers all U/C trying desperately just to keep up with the city's growth.

Vehicular population has exploded.Believe it or not it took me 45 mins to go from chringrighata more to science city!A stretch that used to take jus 10 mins a few years back.EM byepass has been reduced to stop-go traffic during rush hours.Traffic is maddening but.

^^Thanks for the all the pics/updates, but seriously, did you write this up after a few pegs ? ;) Just joking!!
Let me play the devil's advocate and spoil the party a bit

+ve signs
1) Large scale consumerism and growth of real estate across the metropolitan region. Projects like Shrachi Bardhaman in a tier 3 city are not common across the country
2) IT sector making earnest attempts to catch up with the rest of the country
3) People wanting and thinking positive change will come out after the elections

Nagging and/or disturbing negatives

1) Old world mindsets attaching particular types of jobs with social status, equating chaffeur driven cabs with social status etc etc
2) Criticism especially towards the business community (> 90% of which are controlled by non-bengalees)
3) Arguments and counter arguments in the flat/community/para with no concrete solution on issues - people are mostly divided on any issue
4) Work culture ( whether govt employed or private) amongst third or fourth or fifth grade staff needs a complete overhaul.
5) Have a culture of maintenance in the public domain - I agree murir tin buses have reduced but the jnnurm buses have been reduced to worse than murir tins in the last 1.5 years Also we do not need 5 bus companies to run shabbily maintained buses in Kolkata

sumang007

January 21st, 2011, 12:10 PM

Arijeetb,
--
5) Have a culture of maintenance in the public domain - I agree murir tin buses have reduced but the jnnurm buses have been reduced to worse than murir tins in the last 1.5 years

-----

I feel this is the key issue. I (or rather my parents) stay in Uttarpara and it is a privilege to be able to reach my home from the airport in 20 minutes flat. The Belghoria expressway is pretty good. But the quality of road seems to deteriorate with every passing trip. Light are missing, potholes turn into craters, etc. I think the administration is missing on the key to good infrastructure- Good maintenance..

------

mdhar.v12

January 21st, 2011, 02:39 PM

Source: Web Structures
Monday, January 10, 2011 02:04 PM IST (08:34 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest, Lifestyle; Business: Advertising, PR & marketing, Business services, Construction, Real estate

International Design Engineer on the Rise in India with three Major Contracts

Gurgaon, Haryana, India, Monday, January 10, 2011 -- (Business Wire India)

International design engineer Web Structures today announced it has won three major contracts with leading Indian real estate developers to create the tallest residential skyscrapers in Northern India, in Pune and in Kolkata.

The three deals are a first in India for the civil, structural and geotechnical engineering firm which works partnership with leading international architects, including Foster + Partners, Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF) and Conran & Partners, to create iconic buildings across the world. Its team has also played a role in the Freedom Towers project in New York.

Developers in India are looking to Web Structures to help turn their plans into reality because of its world-leading engineering expertise in helping create tall buildings in earthquake zones.

Web Structures has been called in on an ambitious project for developer Ireo, to create North India’s highest tower - the 50-storey skyscraper at Victory Valley in Gurgaon, part of the NCR (National Capital Region).

Three towers form the residential centrepiece of a total gross 2,000,000 sq ft floor area on the development. They will give residents spectacular views across the region

Web Structures revealed it has also won the contract to work on a 30-storey luxury development in Pune for property developer Marvel Realtors. It will be the highest tower in the city.

The third Indian deal announced today is with Forum Projects, where its team will work on the developer’s plans for two 39-storey towers in the West Bengal city of Kolkata – linked by an amazing three-storey bridge with a jogging track and swimming pool in the sky.
The luxury towers will have a 400,000 sq ft area, with stylish villas in the sky and the spectacular sky-bridge at the top of the development will span 60 metres.

India’s growing economic strength is fuelling a new demand for high-rise living in cities across the country. Skylines are changing rapidly as skyscrapers rise and records for tall buildings tumble.

Web Structures has worked on more than 350 projects in 24 countries, including 52 residential and mixed-use skyscrapers around the world.

The practice, which has offices in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and London, has also revealed it is in discussions with Indian developers on further ambitious projects in cities across India, including Mumbai and New Delhi.

Many cities in India are situated in earthquake and cyclone zones and building skyscrapers to withstand extreme conditions requires technical, specialised engineering solutions.

Dr Rezai Jorabi, Web Structures group director, leads the team, whose research work on “earthquake and seismic design of structures” in Malaysia, after the tsunami-causing earthquake of December 2004, has been highly acclaimed.

He said: “India doesn’t have any history of skyscrapers. There hasn’t been the demand for it in the past as high-rise apartment buildings are costly to build and expensive to buy.There are also fundamental challenges because of the high seismicity.

“So what we are seeing now is developers wanting to push the boundaries of what is possible to go higher and higher. A lot of skyscraper records are going to be broken.

“Our experience and expertise in complex design projects and our work in earthquake engineering is becoming widely recognised in India and we will be making telling contributions to the successful delivery of what will be truly iconic buildings.”

He added: “Our experience and understanding helps us to provide solutions which test the boundaries of existing work practices.

“Structural engineering can offer dynamic and varied solutions to the challenges faced by architects and engineers. The design processes we have developed over the years leads to unique structural systems that are tailor-made for each and every project and are totally cost-efficient. This is what we will bring to India.”

Web Structures’ diverse portfolio includes work on award-winning suspension bridges, luxury resort hotels, residential skyscrapers and complex commercial and industrial projects.

The firm has gained its reputation by its successful work on some of the biggest and most challenging construction projects in all parts of the world, continually building on its reputation in the industry.

SSCaddict

January 21st, 2011, 05:02 PM

Suncity

January 21st, 2011, 05:35 PM

and the different reports suggest nothing has changed in last 9 YEARS and still 40% of our population is poor and the rest 30% lives on just Rs 3000 per month :lol:

There is obviously a lot of poverty in India.

However there is a different India behind all the media-analyst-expert-intellectual-public relations created hype or hopelessness. India is like the elephant and the analysts and experts are like blind men trying to figure out what it is. If you see a lot of good news you can safely discard 50% of it is as BS. If you see a lot of bad news then you can safely discard 50% of it as BS.

Suncity

January 22nd, 2011, 01:55 AM

Why West Bengal's planners and people should not be afraid of urbanization (provided future urbanization is planned):

As per state govt statistics:

22.5 million people reside in urban areas or roughly 28% of the state's population.

Yet these 22.5 million people live in just 2.93% of total land of the state.

The urban areas' contribution to state domestic product is 66% of total state domestic product.

niljee

January 22nd, 2011, 05:41 AM

thanks for all the updates!!

In his book "Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power," Robert Kaplan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_D._Kaplan) predicts that Kolkata is going to be the next global city. He gives several reasons for this. Browse the book and take a look at the table of contents here:

http://www.amazon.com/Monsoon-Indian-Ocean-Future-American/dp/1400067464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295588405&sr=8-1#reader_1400067464

http://i56.tinypic.com/bis0wm.jpg

This is a great find mountaincloud! Thanks for sharing this.

SSCaddict

January 22nd, 2011, 06:44 AM

There is obviously a lot of poverty in India.

but the question how much has changed in the last 10 yrs or i would say after liberalization 20yrs? is it rich becoming richer and poor poorer? is the GDP growth is only on paper?

arijeetb

January 22nd, 2011, 06:50 AM

but the question how much has changed in the last 10 yrs or i would say after liberalization 20yrs? is it rich becoming richer and poor poorer? is the GDP growth is only on paper?

^^the rich and upper middle income population have benefitted most from the boom. High GDP growth in the last 5 years does precious little to raise the standard of living(income) in a country which ranks around 150 in gdp per capita. While, with consistently high growth rate the country as a whole will benefit , I am not sure if that is also a solution to reduce the gap between the poor and the rich.

G.Ag

January 22nd, 2011, 06:52 AM

Population, to a large extent, is responsible for poverty and mess in the country.

People in some states earn about Rs. 80 a day and have about 8 children to support. Even if daily income is 100 for them it means Rs. 10 per person per day. And then how can a nation provide employment for 1.2+ billion people?

Suncity

January 22nd, 2011, 07:02 AM

but the question how much has changed in the last 10 yrs or i would say after liberalization 20yrs? is it rich becoming richer and poor poorer? is the GDP growth is only on paper?

GDP growth is on paper (or somebody's excel sheet).

:lol:

I am not sure of last 20 years, but maybe last 12 years have been fruitful for upper middle class and rich India.

A huge chunk of the nation depends on agriculture - directly or indirectly. The growth rate there on paper has been poor.

Anti globalization and anti liberalization folks will say that this is proof that the liberalization policies have only helped certain sections. They are partially correct. But my take on it is that liberalization has not reached Indian agriculture. That is why a lot of people connected to the farm sector (farmers, farm labourers) have been unable to reap the full benefits.

Look at how prices of Onions are growing high. Are the farmers benefitting? Probably no. It is the middle layer which is making the profits. Why? Because our politicians want to protect the poor farmers and in the process end up not giving them the benefits of a market driven economy/liberalization. Protect the farmers when things go down. But let them benefit when the sun shines. The political parties don't want to let go of the power to regulate agricultural markets. It gives them a god like feeling controlling the lives of millions.

What do you think?

SSCaddict

January 22nd, 2011, 12:45 PM

I am not sure of last 20 years, but maybe last 12 years have been fruitful for upper middle class and rich India.

A huge chunk of the nation depends on agriculture - directly or indirectly. The growth rate there on paper has been poor.

Anti globalization and anti liberalization folks will say that this is proof that the liberalization policies have only helped certain sections. They are partially correct. But my take on it is that liberalization has not reached Indian agriculture. That is why a lot of people connected to the farm sector (farmers, farm labourers) have been unable to reap the full benefits.

Look at how prices of Onions are growing high. Are the farmers benefitting? Probably no. It is the middle layer which is making the profits. Why? Because our politicians want to protect the poor farmers and in the process end up not giving them the benefits of a market driven economy/liberalization. Protect the farmers when things go down. But let them benefit when the sun shines. The political parties don't want to let go of the power to regulate agricultural markets. It gives them a god like feeling controlling the lives of millions.

What do you think?

well i have my father's personal experience from middle class in 2000 to rich in 2010 or 2008... which means that the lower middle class/poor have also benefitted.. i just have a feeling that if the manufacturing in the GDP has grown so much in last 12 yrs then this means many many factories/industries have been added and the people working in them must be originally poor but now can be considered middle class(alone in delhi any factory worker owns minimum Rs 10-12k per month to Rs 20k per month)...

now as far as agriculture is considered i believe even 4% farm growth for the last 12 yrs means that the largest fruit grower,rice,wheat,pulses,cotton grower(india) has become larger which means productivity has increased a lot.. now the question arises is this in few selected regions like punjab,gujarat,haryana? i think no.. because the minimum support price has increased a lot(the rate at which govt. procures the foodgrains from the farmers) which means more prosperity for the farmers in UP,maha,AP,WB,TN etc. even who grows rice and wheat.Now the farmers get subsidised fertilizer,electricity etc but is this really reaches the farmer? is the contract farming in WB(different potato growers to Uncle chips,lays etc) ,Punjab(parle-g etc) have benefitted the farmers? if yes then the contract farming should be taken up by big corporates and this method should be followed? if this is done then how will middlemen work and a whole lot of local politicians earn their money? is their any strong leader in UPA or NDA who could take such a sensitive decision because the masses of this country resides in rural sector and earn their living from farming?

so i would say that yes in last 12 yrs agriculture has seen a lot of growth but the question is who benefitted the farmer or the middlemen? i read somewhere that the 60% of gold consumption is in rural villages which is 600 tonnes for 2010 is the bumper crop last yr resulted in higher income for farmer or middlemen? where did the 600 tonnes of gold go middlemen and politicians or farmers?

so there are hell lot of questions which the biased media can't answer or politically are bounded so that the real farm news not to reach the strong urban middle class!!

the only unbiased media is doordarshan news and yesterday they were showing how watershed management had brought prosperity to 25,000 farmers in himachal pradesh(a model followed in gujarat widely and haryana sson to follow it)

Suncity

January 22nd, 2011, 01:53 PM

well i have my father's personal experience from middle class in 2000 to rich in 2010 or 2008... which means that the lower middle class/poor have also benefitted.. i just have a feeling that if the manufacturing in the GDP has grown so much in last 12 yrs then this means many many factories/industries have been added and the people working in them must be originally poor but now can be considered middle class(alone in delhi any factory worker owns minimum Rs 10-12k per month to Rs 20k per month)...

now as far as agriculture is considered i believe even 4% farm growth for the last 12 yrs means that the largest fruit grower,rice,wheat,pulses,cotton grower(india) has become larger which means productivity has increased a lot.. now the question arises is this in few selected regions like punjab,gujarat,haryana? i think no.. because the minimum support price has increased a lot(the rate at which govt. procures the foodgrains from the farmers) which means more prosperity for the farmers in UP,maha,AP,WB,TN etc. even who grows rice and wheat.Now the farmers get subsidised fertilizer,electricity etc but is this really reaches the farmer? is the contract farming in WB(different potato growers to Uncle chips,lays etc) ,Punjab(parle-g etc) have benefitted the farmers? if yes then the contract farming should be taken up by big corporates and this method should be followed? if this is done then how will middlemen work and a whole lot of local politicians earn their money? is their any strong leader in UPA or NDA who could take such a sensitive decision because the masses of this country resides in rural sector and earn their living from farming?

so i would say that yes in last 12 yrs agriculture has seen a lot of growth but the question is who benefitted the farmer or the middlemen? i read somewhere that the 60% of gold consumption is in rural villages which is 600 tonnes for 2010 is the bumper crop last yr resulted in higher income for farmer or middlemen? where did the 600 tonnes of gold go middlemen and politicians or farmers?

so there are hell lot of questions which the biased media can't answer or politically are bounded so that the real farm news not to reach the strong urban middle class!!

the only unbiased media is doordarshan news and yesterday they were showing how watershed management had brought prosperity to 25,000 farmers in himachal pradesh(a model followed in gujarat widely and haryana sson to follow it)

Excellent post. I have the same questions but I don't know the answers. There has been growth and improvements but to what extent is the question to be asked.

We have left wing intellectuals all the time harping about farmer suicides and how liberalization and globalization policies are responsible for the poverty and suicides.

Then you have the right wingers who think all problems in the nation are because of a few communist parties limited to a few states.

A lot of those charges from both sides seem to be political in nature. There are probably a lot of good basic ideas coming from intelligent folks of India who have been discussing and debating for several decades. But maybe there is no matching mass scale action across the nation.

Isn't it a kind of sad though that you think Doordarshan is now the the most unbiased media.