Kolkata Beautification Projects

[Aritra Das]

Originally Posted by studdmanster

Whoz the surd in d pic???

he's the Tourism minister....Rachpal Singh!

[SarafIndian]

Originally Posted by Suncity

I thought you liked his oath taking during the swearing in ceremony. It's tourism minister Rachpal Singh.

You caught him

[studdmanster]

Originally Posted by Aritra Das

he's the Tourism minister....Rachpal Singh!

wow...never seen a neta in jeans & tee....must say the smartest WB minister...

[studdmanster]

Originally Posted by Suncity

I thought you liked his oath taking during the swearing in ceremony. It's tourism minister Rachpal Singh.

but from this pic cudnt make out it was the same surd banda....

[anirban_ban]

Originally Posted by AbhishekDatta

গঙ্গায় মেরিনা, লণ্ডনআই


শহরের সৌন্দর্যায়নে গঙ্গাবক্ষে গড়ে তোলা হবে মেরিনা ও লণ্ডন আই. স্থান নির্বাচনে শুক্রবার লঞ্চে করে গঙ্গাবক্ষ ঘুরে দেখলেন কলকাতার মেয়র শোভন চট্টোপাধ্যায় ও পর্যটনমন্ত্রী রচপাল সিংহ. সঙ্গে ছিলেন পোর্টট্রাস্টের চেয়ারম্যানও. পুজোয় পর্যটকদের গঙ্গাভ্রমণের স্বাদ উপহার দিতে দু’টি নতুন প্যাকেজেরও ঘোষণা করেন পর্যটনমন্ত্রী.


গঙ্গাবক্ষে ও গঙ্গা তীরবর্তী অংশের সৌন্দর্য বাড়াতে একাধিক উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে কলকাতা পুরসভা. সেই উদ্যোগে নতুন সংযোজন হবে গঙ্গাবক্ষে মেরিনা ও লণ্ডন আই তৈরি. অত্যাধুনিক এই মেরিনাতে দর্শকদের জন্য থাকবে বিনোদনের সবরকম বন্দোবস্ত. ওয়াটার থিম পার্ক থেকে শুরু করে সংষ্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠানের জন্য থাকবে কালচারাল স্টেজও. শহরের বিভিন্ন প্রান্তের সৌন্দর্য উঁচু থেকে দেখার আনন্দ দর্শকদের উপহার দিতে তৈরি হবে লণ্ডন আই.বিশাল আকৃতির সুউচ্চ গোলাকৃতির এই লণ্ডন আইতে উঠে শহরের বিভিন্ন প্রান্তের ছবি দেখা যাবে.
গঙ্গার ঠিক কোন অংশে এই মেরিন ও লণ্ডন আই তৈরি করা হবে তা স্থির করতেই শুক্রবার লঞ্চে করে বাবুঘাট থেকে বি-গার্ডেন পর্যন্ত গঙ্গাবক্ষ ঘুরে দেখেন মেয়র শোভন চট্টোপাধ্যায়, পর্যটনমন্ত্রী রচপাল সিংহ, পোর্ট ট্রাস্টের চেয়ারম্যান মদনলাল মিনা. সঙ্গে ছিলেন কলকাতা পুরসভা, পর্যটন দফতর ও পোর্ট ট্রাস্টের কর্তারা.
পুজোর সময় প্রমোদতরীতে করে পর্যটকদের গঙ্গাবঙ্গে ভ্রমণের আনন্দ দিতে থাকছে দু’টি প্যাকেজ. গঙ্গা ও গঙ্গা তীরবর্তী অংশের সৌন্দর্য উপভোগ ছাড়াও প্রমোদনতরীতে পর্যটকদের জন্য থাকছে খাওয়া দাওয়ার বন্দোবস্ত, মনোরঞ্জনের জন্য থাকবে সাংষ্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠানও. বাবুঘাট থেকে বি-গার্ডেন ও বাবুঘাট থেকে দক্ষিণেশ্বর হয়ে বেলুড়মঠ, এই দুটি পথেই ভেসে চলবে প্রমোদতরী.

"গঙ্গার ঠিক কোন অংশে এই মেরিন ও লণ্ডন আই তৈরি করা " The reporter is telling that London Eye will be built on Ganga. I thought London Eye was already built near Thames. Junk reporting by Anandabazar

[rupakd]

Didi’s dream: 1-km-long viewing deck on Hooghly waterfront

Imagine having an unhindered view of the Hooghly from a gallery on its banks. Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is taking up an ambitious project of building a 1km-long raised platform along the Hooghly riverfront, with its foundation sunk 40 metres deep into the river.
The scheme is part of the riverfront beautification project – the brainchild of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The CM had inaugurated the first phase of the beautification project on August 2. A senior KMC official said that several top construction firms responded to the national tender. “We have chosen a well known construction firm and hope to start the first phase of beautification by November,” a KMC official said.
The stretch between Bajekadamtala ghat and Millennium Park will be taken up for beautification in Phase-I at an estimated cost of 36 crore, say sources. The first phase, as conceptualized by Delhi-based School of Planning and Architecture, involves reconstruction of two major ghats, building a 1-km-long pathway along the riverbank and constructing a couple of subways for visitors to avoid circular railway crossings.
The KMC has been chosen as the nodal agency according to a memorandum of understanding signed between the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, KMC and the railways. The civic body has roped in RITES, the consultancy firm under the railway ministry, for preparing the drawing and design of the project. The cost is estimated to touch 2,000 crore, say sources.
Though the chief minister gave mayor Sovon Chatterjee six months to complete the first phase, some KMC officials felt the deadline is impossible to meet. “The construction firm which will be awarded the contract will have to raise a platform along the riverfront with its foundation sunk deep into the river for a 1000-metre stretch. We need to spruce up two ghats and create a long pathway for visitors. It will take at least a year for the first phase to be completed,” a civic official said.
Funding is another problem which may further delay the project, felt a KMC official, considering the severe funds crunch which has hit the corporation. “It is difficult to arrange for funds for a beautification project at a time when we are short of 300 crore on essential civic services,” said a KMC official. “We had no alternative but to cut funds for roads, health and even slum development. Is it easy to pump in funds for a beautification project?” the civic official asked. TNN

[BengaliTiger]

Originally Posted by rupakd

Didi’s dream: 1-km-long viewing deck on Hooghly waterfront

It will take at least a year for the first phase to be completed,” a civic official said.
TNN

I told earlier, that six months is not a feasible deadline. It will take at least 2 years to complete the stretch.

[Samrat]

Originally Posted by anirban_ban

"গঙ্গার ঠিক কোন অংশে এই মেরিন ও লণ্ডন আই তৈরি করা " The reporter is telling that London Eye will be built on Ganga. I thought London Eye was already built near Thames. Junk reporting by Anandabazar

So that people can see London city sitting or standing by the Hooghly in Kolkata. How funny!

This reminds me about a writing on a locally made car I had seen in Islamabad(Pakistan) which read "made as Japan"

[Goli]

Originally Posted by Samrat

This reminds me about a writing on a locally made car I had seen in Islamabad(Pakistan) which read "made as Japan"

[AbhishekDatta]

some news on marina and london eye...

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.ph...86952&catid=72

Anti-billboard drive dying a natural death?
18 October 2011
statesman news service

KOLKATA, 18 OCT: The decision to set up a green corridor from bridge number 4 to Kolkata airport where all billboards are to be removed is dying a natural death with the state government realising the difficulty of implementing the order without amending the existing law.
With the passage of time officials of various departments have realised the impossibility of implementing the chief minister's dream as they are not armed with a proper law.
The meeting was held on 21 September. It was attended by the mayor, state minister for urban development, principal secretary urban development department, secretaries of municipal affairs and public works departments, CEO, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), municipal commissioner, IG law and order, director tourism, director general of civil and building and representatives of urban forest department. The next meeting will be held on 21 October at Millennium Park.
The proposed green corridor is from bridge number 4 to airport via Rajarhat New Town and EM Bypass. It was decided at the last meeting that “the KMC, KMDA, East Kolkata Wetland Authority (EKWLA), Nabadiganta Industrial Township Development Authority (NDITA), Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco), PWD and all concerned agencies would take action for removing all billboards in their respective jurisdiction. Both Kolkata police and West Bengal police would not allow traffic kiosk, traffic signals etc to be sponsored by advertisement agencies.”
But so far neither of the agencies has pulled down a single billboard situated in their areas. To beautify the city, all iron railings of Salt Lake, New Town will be in firoza blue and white. Similarly, all fencing in parks will have pale green colour and black. The tourism department will take the initiative to invite expression of interest for setting up one marina and a Kolkata Eye. Marina will come up at Millennium Park while the Kolkata Eye is planned at Howrah near the abandoned HRBC plant. The tourism department has not made progress in the matter.
A senior official said to remove the billboards the existing laws need to be amended. “Billboards which are legal and for which the advertisement agencies have paid the requisite fees cannot become illegal all on a sudden just because an individual does not like them. There is no proper law to take action against them,” he said, adding the laws need to be amended first before taking action.
The officials said Friday's meeting will be another fruitless one and it has lost its importance and seriousness.

[AbhishekDatta]

Finally KMC got the clearances from the MOD and is ready to start the riverside beautification project:

[arijeetb]

Originally Posted by AbhishekDatta

Finally KMC got the clearances from the MOD and is ready to start the riverside beautification project:

Good, now their ultimate challenge starts with removing shanties and that one disgusting bus stand at Babughat.

[AbhishekDatta]

Originally Posted by arijeetb

Good, now their ultimate challenge starts with removing shanties and that one disgusting bus stand at Babughat.

I guess removal of the bus stand from Babughat is just a matter of now after the verdict...

[AbhishekDatta]

here is the EOI
http://www.westbengaltourism.gov.in/...&groupId=10136

Government of West Bengal
Department of Tourism
2, Brabourne Road, 4
th
Floor: Kolkata-700001
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR KOLKATA GIANT WHEEL
Dated: 07-10-2011
The Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal envisages setting up a revolving
“Giant Wheel” on the lines of LONDON EYE, in Kolkata, on the Hooghly riverfront. The idea is to set up
this “Great Kolkata Wheel” as an iconic structure for attracting tourists to the city. The Wheel would
have an approximate diameter of 150 to 180 meters with more than 30 viewing cabins accommodating
500 + people per revolution.
The project would be funded under the Large Revenue Generating Scheme of the Ministry of
Tourism, Government of India, the details of which are available at www.tourism.gov.in.
Expression of Interest is invited from reputed firms who are willing to undertake this Project
with credentials of executing such projects or projects similar in nature.
All documents are to be submitted under sealed cover to the Director of Tourism, Government
of West Bengal, 2, Brabourne Road, Kolkata 700 001. The last date for submission of documents is 21
October, 2011.

[AbhishekDatta]

http://www.westbengaltourism.gov.in/...&groupId=10136

Government of West Bengal
Department of Tourism
2, Brabourne Road, 4
th
Floor: Kolkata-700001
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR KOLKATA MARINA
Dated: 07-10-2011
The Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal proposes to augment the tourism
facilities along the river Hooghly and plans to set up international class marina with yacht club on the
Kolkata riverfront. The facilities would include boating centre with a marina for private yacht parking,
provision for water sports activity like canoeing, sailing, rowing, angling, art center and public
promenades with food beverage areas. The intention is to open up a new arena in the tourism sector of
the State and attract national/international tourists to Kolkata.
The project would be funded under the Large Revenue Generating Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism,
Government of India, the details of which are available at www. tourism.gov.in.
Expression of Interest is invited from reputed firms who are willing to undertake this Project
with credentials of executing such projects or projects similar in nature.
All documents are to be submitted under sealed cover to the Director of Tourism, Government
of West Bengal, 2, Brabourne Road, Kolkata 700 001. The last date for submission of documents is 21
October, 2011.

[sidney_jec]

great!!!

[Suncity]

Finally things are moving.

[BengaliTiger]

Yeah!!! thats a good news...

[AbhishekDatta]

deadline seems to have ended...not sure if extended or how many proposals received!! hope we get good proposals and implementation finds daylight

[sakrishna]

Great