Google Earth May 18, 2009 updates

City Center II and surroundings, New Town, Kolkata

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1745/kolkatacitycenterrajggl.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/kolkatacitycenterrajggl.jpg/)

^^SUN

you are awesome.


thanks. GOOGLE EARTH's New Kolkata is spectacular. But can you take the shots in 3-d. they look even better...when the camera is in an angle. It looks as if the buildings are all standing up. hehe

Cool thread. That pics looks awesome. :cheers:

Uniworld City and Rosedale

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2397/kolkatarajarhatgglunis.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/kolkatarajarhatgglunis.jpg/)

Akankha and surroundings

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6872/kolkatarajarhathiklandg.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/kolkatarajarhathiklandg.jpg/)

DLF I and surroundings

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6903/kolkatadlfggls.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/kolkatadlfggls.jpg/)

WBHB Lakeview Complex, Howrah

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/4681/jowreahlakeggls.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/jowreahlakeggls.jpg/)

section of Shapoorji Sukhobrishti, Elita Gardens and DLF New Town Heights

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1885/shukhobrishtiggls.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/shukhobrishtiggls.jpg/)

A section of Unitech Niravana County, Howrah

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/2189/nirvanacountykolkataggl.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/nirvanacountykolkataggl.jpg/)

Cool imags Sun. Thanks for posting. Those projects are rocking. I had no idea that nirvana has progressed so much. Thats really cool.. :banana::banana:

^^

Thanks to todscreen for alerting us to the google updates.

Infinity I and II, Omega, Infinity Benchmark, CTS, Globsyn..

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3600/infinitykolkataggl2.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/infinitykolkataggl2.jpg/)

^^

Thanks to todscreen for alerting us to the google updates.

Yap.. Thanks to tod. :cheers:

Merlin Lake View (u/c) etc..

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9776/suncitykolkataggls.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/i/suncitykolkataggls.jpg/)

Ideal Heights

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4958/idealheightskolkataggls.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/i/idealheightskolkataggls.jpg/)

Thanks Sun & Tod for all the updates:cheers:

Sunrise Towers

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4057/surekatowerskolkataggls.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/i/surekatowerskolkataggls.jpg/)

Those are some stunning GE visuals. Rosedale and Uniworld City look quite amazing from this view.

Good job Sun and Tod. Keep em coming.

SUN..you are awesome..thanks

you must have the google earth downloaded on your computer..because the online version gives you small size images.

btw,did you check out Vedic Village. It's humongous. bengal needs more such projects in the suburban areas.

Vedic Village

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6246/vedicvoillageccuggls.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/i/vedicvoillageccuggls.jpg/)

DLF II, Unitech Infospace, Tata Memorial Hospital (?)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3516/dlfunitechkolkataggls.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/i/dlfunitechkolkataggls.jpg/)

Sun, which building is it on the left corner(down) at post #12. It seems a huge building from the pic.

Uniworld City and Rosedale

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2397/kolkatarajarhatgglunis.jpg (http://img194.imageshack.us/i/kolkatarajarhatgglunis.jpg/)

This ones amazing. Imagine when Rosedale & Uniworld are complete. That area will be incredible :cheers: Thanks Tod aswell

Sun, which building is it on the left corner(down) at post #12. It seems a huge building from the pic.

I think you are referring to Globsyn Crystals.

At last the slum capital of INDIA is undergoing transformation. Lets hope for the better.:)

^^
what? when did this city have slums? you must be in the wrong thread.

At last the slum capital of INDIA is undergoing transformation. Lets hope for the better.:)

^^Agreed that Kolkata has plenty of slum pockets, but Mumbai is the slum capital of Asia, by virtue of the highest % living in slums or slum like conditions.

Bengal Silver Spring and Mamata di's favourite newspaper - Bartamaan's office

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/670/bengalsilbvergglx.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/i/bengalsilbvergglx.jpg/)

City Center I and surroundings

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4340/citycwentre1kolkataggls.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/i/citycwentre1kolkataggls.jpg/)

Great Eastern Hotel - reconstruction

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5531/greatesaternkolkataggls.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/i/greatesaternkolkataggls.jpg/)

Block by Block, Terminus Mall, Axis Mall, Xtra Mall(?) and Vibgyor (NBCC) housing

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3570/terminusmallkolkataggls.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/i/terminusmallkolkataggls.jpg/)

Floatel - the floating Hotel

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3714/floateluggls.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/i/floateluggls.jpg/)

Mani Square Mall

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/999/manisquaremallggglkolka.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/manisquaremallggglkolka.jpg/)

Manikarn.

BTW is that long structure next to Manikarn - the Ffirangi Bazaar?

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2821/manisomekolkataggls.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/manisomekolkataggls.jpg/)

Apollo Gleneagles Hospital and Prasad Exotica (http://www.99acres.com/customised/prasadgroup/index.htm)

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/3338/apollohospitalkolkatagg.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/apollohospitalkolkatagg.jpg/)

Kothari Medical, Birla Heart, Woodlands Nursing and Calcutta Hospital

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3086/kolkatahospggls.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/kolkatahospggls.jpg/)

The Empire (u/c), Gurusaday Road

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1452/empireccuggl.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/empireccuggl.jpg/)

Haute Street (u/c), Vishwakarama (Bengal Ambuja Office), Steel Junction etc

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5914/hautecotureccuggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/hautecotureccuggls.jpg/)

Ideal Lake View (u/c)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7889/ideallakekolkataggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/ideallakekolkataggls.jpg/)

Rukmani - Parasmani and Lake District

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3269/manilakekolkataggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/manilakekolkataggls.jpg/)

Hiland Sapphire (u/c) - top left

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9588/sapphirggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/sapphirggls.jpg/)

Malancha and others

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7577/malanchaggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/malanchaggls.jpg/)

Sanjeeva Town and Aquatica

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3065/sanjeevatownccuggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/sanjeevatownccuggls.jpg/)

Ecospace

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9068/ecospaceggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/ecospaceggls.jpg/)

Godrej Waterside

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7162/watersidekolkataggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/watersidekolkataggls.jpg/)

Sankalpa

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1372/sankalpakolkaytaggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/sankalpakolkaytaggls.jpg/)

Diamond Heritage (looks like they are just retaining the outer shell of the building)

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6277/shippingccuggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/shippingccuggls.jpg/)

Site of the proposed tallest tower in city?

old news
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/4985/toptower.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/toptower.jpg/)

google earth view

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7473/tatakolkataggls.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/tatakolkataggls.jpg/)

^^ any news about any construction activity there??

^^ any news about any construction activity there??

Hardly expect to hear on this now - let the recession really go away. I am surprised in general that there are still "tall" plans coming up, which indicates that the intention to complete projects and get business going still exists. Good going.

And a general comment - these Google Earth pics that Sun imported and Tod is also following up now are smashing - I am loving every bit of these.
_____________________________
Portable infrared sauna (http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1688962)

Sun, if possible pl post surroundings of Southcity, Hiland park and Genx valley

:lol:Thank you sun for creating this beautiful thread. It is clear to me that Kolkata could be transformed into a vibrant dynamic hightech city with some cooperation from its inhabitants.When I visit kolkata every 2-3 years I rarely have the chance to visit all these exotic high rise complexs. Only high rise I see on my way home from airport are Highland park and south city in my neighborhood. The degree of transformation it quite evident.I think NRIs could transform that city alone without any help of political party or govt.
May lord bless kolkata!:)

Sun, if possible pl post surroundings of Southcity, Hiland park and Genx valley

GE has not updated those areas yet. But I will post the older pics later on.

Rajarhat flyover

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4307/rajarhatflyggls.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/rajarhatflyggls.jpg/)

Kolkata Station

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/7440/kolkataterminalggls.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/kolkataterminalggls.jpg/)

^^ sorry i m late here... but wait ... so many new updates... few of them even i forgot:lol:... this thread is awesome... no chance to even blink my eyes.... Many thanks to Sun and Tod...:cheers:

PS Srijan Tech Park and Millenium City

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/9298/milleniumkolkataggls.jpg (http://img188.imageshack.us/i/milleniumkolkataggls.jpg/)

VSNL and DVC

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/1893/vsnldvckolkataggls.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/vsnldvckolkataggls.jpg/)

Salboni (http://www.bengaldcpaul.com/Salboni/ProjectDetails.htm)

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/1779/dcpaulkolkatagglw.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/dcpaulkolkatagglw.jpg/)

Pantaloons in the Orchid Point Complex, Kankurgachi/Phoolbagan

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/193/pantaloonskolkataggls.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/pantaloonskolkataggls.jpg/)

Belgharia Expressway Nivedita Setu end

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/123/belexggl.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/belexggl.jpg/)

Belgharia Expressway Airport end

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7860/belghoriaexpggls.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/belghoriaexpggls.jpg/)

NH2 and NH6 junction

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/6789/nh2nh6ggls.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/nh2nh6ggls.jpg/)

NH2 and Kona Expressway

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8959/nh2konaggls.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/nh2konaggls.jpg/)

ITC Fortune Park Hotel and Proposed Howrah/Kona truck terminal

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5306/howrahtruks.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/howrahtruks.jpg/)

Unitech Gateway (http://www.unitechonline.in/microsite/gateway.asp?source=UnitechGroup), Howrah

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5912/unitechhowrahs.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/unitechhowrahs.jpg/)

Vidyasagar Setu Howrah side Toll Plaza and Shalimar Rail Terminus

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/7448/vidyahowrahggls.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/vidyahowrahggls.jpg/)

Vidyasagar Setu Kolkata side ramps

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3876/vidyakolkataggls.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/vidyakolkataggls.jpg/)

Ultadanga Flyover u/c

1
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8235/ultaflyover3s.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/ultaflyover3s.jpg/)

2
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9058/ultadangaflyoverw.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/ultadangaflyoverw.jpg/)

Wipro Jn flyover

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/2233/wiprojuncflyoverggls.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/wiprojuncflyoverggls.jpg/)

^^

Great. Looks Kolkatta has more complex interchanges in the country.

We don't have much Ariel pics of these complex interchanges.

I have included some links from wikimapia and this will give you some idea how our old city is changing.
This is the link for South City and Lake Gardens area.
http://www.wikimapia.org/beta/#lat=22.5015154&lon=88.3595824&z=17&l=0&m=s&v=1
Highland Park on EM bypass ( not in New Jersey !) link:
http://www.wikimapia.org/beta/#lat=22.4846688&lon=88.389076&z=18&l=0&m=s&v=1
High rise residential complexes by EM bypass /RB Avenue ( Avishikta) :
http://www.wikimapia.org/beta/#lat=22.5073138&lon=88.3994401&z=17&l=0&m=h&v=1
Sealdah railway station / Ideal Hts. at central Kolkata:
http://www.wikimapia.org/beta/#lat=22.569842&lon=88.3726931&z=17&l=0&m=s&v=1
Taj Bengal hotel , Alipour, Kolkata:
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=22.5376202&lon=88.3343482&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2

Awesome images Sun. :cheers:Did they update Bel-Air?

Awesome images Sun. :cheers:Did they update Bel-Air?

Nope. They left out most of South Kolkata.

I think Calcutta is dislike just for the sake of hatred. Calcutta's highway infra such as bypasses, interchanges, bridges & everything else is creme de la creme compared to even Delhi & these aerials are testaments to it.

Why is City of Joy so stigmatized? Maybe thanks but no thanks to the leprosy movie like "city of Joy" starring Patrick Swazye. Or maybe cuz of oscar winning Calcutta documentry like "Born into brothels"

Infra wise, Calcutta is much superior looking than Hyd, B'lore, Chennai & Bombay so far. Delhi is the only one that is marginally better.

Calcutta got wider, more laned roads, highways & now expressways than B'lore, Hyd, Chennai combined.

^^ its no more than a wrong perception of the ppl in general..
i have a friend who has recently moved to an IT compnay in Kolkata and says that it looks like 10 years behind even Pune (WTF?)..
now he obviously has gone by the views of the common public..
i think its the conspiracy of the Congress govt to have shifted Kolkata into a so called extreme backwardness..
ppl see what the media show and media shows what the govt directs them to..

^^ its no more than a wrong perception of the ppl in general..
i have a friend who has recently moved to an IT compnay in Kolkata and says that it looks like 10 years behind even Pune (WTF?)..
now he obviously has gone by the views of the common public..
i think its the conspiracy of the Congress govt to have shifted Kolkata into a so called extreme backwardness..
ppl see what the media show and media shows what the govt directs them to..

^^Did he make this statement within the 1st few days?

I have observed ( in this forum as well) that people tend to mistake something that is old to filth, backwardness etc. Maybe he or anyone for that matter new to the city should visit some of the glitz surrounding shopping malls, high-rise condos, Sector V, New Town etc to get a more balanced picture.

^^Did he make this statement within the 1st few days?

I have observed ( in this forum as well) that people tend to mistake something that is old to filth, backwardness etc. Maybe he or anyone for that matter new to the city should visit some of the glitz surrounding shopping malls, high-rise condos, Sector V, New Town etc to get a more balanced picture.

Don't worry - there is a classic difference of neo-rich and established old rich guys. The former often tend to believe that only gold can glitter and anything that glitters just has to be gold - not always but quite frequently. Kolkata being a heritage city, it has its fair share of classic structures. And of course there are modern structures too. It is a nice mix.

Pune's infrastructure was almost unimaginably bad at the time I resided there, be it power, be it water, be it roads, be it public transport. I have not gone to Pune since I left it back in 2005 (I was a newbie at SSC at that time), and it still remains one of my favorite cities, but if one has to compare (as much as I don't want it but that is what Sidney's friend is doing) then unfortunately barring some corners of Pune it does not stand a chance against Kolkata.

^^Did he make this statement within the 1st few days?

I have observed ( in this forum as well) that people tend to mistake something that is old to filth, backwardness etc. Maybe he or anyone for that matter new to the city should visit some of the glitz surrounding shopping malls, high-rise condos, Sector V, New Town etc to get a more balanced picture.

yes of course..
that was his first reaction..
waise God help him..

I always wanted to ask this to someone from Kolkata...

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3020/interchange.jpg

Those ramps of this interchange (circled in red) end nowhere!!! Those almost 8 lanes suddenly go into the dense locality...isn't it a mess? Rest of the interchange is awesome, one of its kind in India, but wth is that? We can also see those yellow ambies and few buses parked across near that end...

^^That is the Howrah side, and the ramp you have highlighted is the one that descends at the north end. Howrah is the lesser developed twin of Kolkata. The northern side of the ramp (the highlighted section) goes directly deeper inside the oldest parts of Howrah. Hence the infrastructure at that point may not be really be ever improved - simply because without any out-of-convention step it would be impossible.

So, yes, you are right, unfortunately that wide road suddenly goes into the digestive bowls of Howrah.
____________________
Portable sauna (http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1688962)

^^ that's really unfortunate for an interchange of this scale...:ohno:

Anyways, thanks fred for clarification!

@Grapewine:

I live not to far from the interchange end you are talking about.That end also functions as a bus stop,so most of the traffic coming out of that interchange consists of taxis and buses which stop there and go no further.Howrah has a very low per capita income so car ownership isnt that high.As a result there isnt a lot of pricate car travel on that particular end and so there hardly ever any traffic snarls.On the whole i must say the entire system of approach roads are extremely well designed(both howrah and kolkata end) and even after travelling daily on tha bridge for that last 15 yrs i have yet to see a major traffic bottleneck caused due to desgn flaws.The only reservation i have in that over the years the mastic ashalt surface has not been well maintained and has broken in numerous places(except the main span).

@Grapewine:

I live not to far from the interchange end you are talking about.That end also functions as a bus stop,so most of the traffic coming out of that interchange consists of taxis and buses which stop there and go no further.Howrah has a very low per capita income so car ownership isnt that high.As a result there isnt a lot of pricate car travel on that particular end and so there hardly ever any traffic snarls.On the whole i must say the entire system of approach roads are extremely well designed(both howrah and kolkata end) and even after travelling daily on tha bridge for that last 15 yrs i have yet to see a major traffic bottleneck caused due to desgn flaws.The only reservation i have in that over the years the mastic ashalt surface has not been well maintained and has broken in numerous places(except the main span).

I see what you mean. The asphalt on the bridge is sturdy and smooth but the ramps are not in a good condition. More than cracks in some places expansion has occured.

I am hoping private traffic should pick up when more plush residential complexes open in Howrah especially along Kona highway and NH2

The roads on Howrah side are narrow.

The ramps lead to GT Road (and Foreshore road), GT Road at Bataitola, Botanical Gardens Road, Andul Road and Kona Expressway. The ramps kind of lead to nowhere at Mandirtala. They have been unable to construct the proposed road there which I think was supposed to link to central Howrah.

I never knew that Kolkata has such complex interchange since so long (more than 15 yrs)... :cheers:
That is amazing because still today, no other city in India has such thing. Delhi has many but not this complex.
Thanks for info guys!

Since the topic of Howrah came up - here is an interesting graphic

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/622/kolkataconsumption.jpg (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/kolkataconsumption.jpg/)

^^ how old are those figures? any idea?

^^ how old are those figures? any idea?

The report is recent. Not sure about the data.

I don't consider Howrah as a separate city though it has a separate municipality. Its like Dumdum, Barahnagar, Salt Lake, Belgharia and many more which come under Kolkata UA.

If you exclude these suburbs of Kolkata, its a city smaller than Pune and could not be counted among the Metros of India.

^^ i think they consider Kolkata under the KMC(kolkata municipal corporation)

what it can't account for size, does make up with its burgeoning population and buying power. Central Kolkata is where all the rich landlords live.