Financial Hub - Meeting with Chairman NABARD

Yesterday and the day before, I have been discussing intensely on the best way forward for Financial Hub in New Town. I discussed at depth with our new Creative Consultant (Lintas) and our JV Advisor (BUIDL). Yesterday morning, I had a detailed discussion with Dr Prakash Bakshi, Chairman NABARD at the office chamber of Chief Secretary at Writers' Buildings.
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Today is the date of pre-bid discussion for Architect Firms for the proposed Nazrul Academy. I will brief them.
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Here is a photo that appeared in today's Pratidin:

eFiling and eTracking system

The Urban Development Department has three branches (Metropolitan Development, Town and Country Planning and Urban Land Ceiling). There are 10 Development Authorities (including KMDA and Hidco) and 6 Planning Authorities. There will be a review meeting today at 2pm. Thereafter, the eFile-Track system will be inaugurated. We have published few advertisements. The e-System will help us making sense of the n-number of files/letters among 200 odd staff/officers. It will help produce management information and quickly monitor progress.
We have set up a LAN in Nagarayan, trained our staff and made a trial run for the last one month or so. I think it is a very useful tool for improving governance. It is not spectacular, but fits well with present Secretariat Practice. There is no re-engineering, no lofty paper-less-office ideals - but simply a practical way of speeding up the administrative machinery as it exists.
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12th February 2012

Here is one other clipping from the Telegraph that appeared later:

Jatragachhi Bridge & Tropical Forest Plantation Starts

We got the eco-tourism Master Plan from ILFS/ Pradip Sachadeva a couple of days ago. There will be a Rain Forest on a 3-acre plot within the 480-acre site. Each plant is identified and a co-ordinate assigned to it. The plantation started today morning. I and others went there to kick-off the starting of the plantations. 

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Earlier in the morning, we witnessed the starting of a Rs 30 lakh box bridge connecting Jatragachhi Panchayat with New Town. I broke a coconut as also MLA Rajarhat Mr Sabyasachi Datta. This was a long-pending demand of the villagers and the Panchayat Pradhan, a lady, thanked us for the effort.

Notice for architects for Nazrul Bhavan

The proposed Nazrul Bhavan at Salt Lake will be executed by the Special Engineer of UD Department. Today, an advertisement appeared in Pratidin. Here it is:

Land Planning (LUDCP)

The law says that LUDCP or Land Use Development and Control Plan should be ready within two years of formation of a Planning Authority. But in many cases, this has not been done. I went to Haldia last Saturday to attend a meeting of the HDA Board. I visited Nayachar with CEO Ulganathan IAS and found that although this was added to HDA area in 2004, no efforts to make LUDCP had been undertaken.
Here is a picture from Pratidin of 23rd Jan:

Tourism PPP

We had the meeting on "Tourism and Related Infrastructure" at Writers' Building yesterday. This was a follow-up on CM's meeting at Town Hall on 16th. FICCI, CII, PwC, ILFS and few potential investors participated. More than half a dozen Secretaries were present.
We discussed about a framework for Tourism in the PPP mode.

Tajpur Beach

This is a picture from today's Anandabazar. We went there yesterday on way from Digha to Kolkata. There will be a meeting at Town Hall on Monday at 2 pm.
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Few more pix on Digha Beach Festival:

Digha Beach Festival Inaugurated

Chief Minister inaugurated the Digha Beach Festival today at 4.30pm. Here is a picture of the site taken in the morning today:

In the evening, CM came back to the venue ground quite unanniounced, walking from Udaipur beach. I accompanied her to Digha Mohana where Sea Food Festival was being held.

Digha Festival Eve

I'm writing this at Digha. The Digha Beach Festival will be inaugurated at 4.30pm tomorrow.  I came yesterday evening. CM came today at 5pm. I accompanied her in her car to Mandarmoni. After dinner, I and Soumen Pal, Executive Officer DSDA went and saw the venue. Here is a picture:

Hidco Stall at Bengal Leads Inaugurated by Dr Amit Mitra

I was present during the inauguration of Bengal Leads 2012 at Milan Mela ground today afternoon. After this, Dr Amit Mitra, Finance Minister, inaugurated HIDCO's stall there and spent some time with us. Incidentally, we are setting up a Financial Hub in New Town for which I am in touch with the FM often.

The stall, though on a smallish stall of 36 sq m, is reasonably ok. I changed the location of the stall at the last moment (barely a day before) with help from Nandini Chakrabarty, IAS, MD WBIDC. The officers of Hidco and the agents reacted splendidly and brought up the stall at the new location by working overtime...In the picture, I am explaining the 3D model of the eco-park that we are building in New Town. The model arrived from Delhi by air today morning.

Fire Audit

Here is a masked clip from today's Times of India:

Survey in Salt Lake from tomorrow

We will conduct a household survey in Salt Lake from tomorrow. We published a notice in some newspapers. Here is one that appeared in today's Times of India.

The survey will be done by Prantakatha, "a youth advocacy group" that had provided the backroom support for the Anandababu campaign of the Election Campaign in 2009. A training programme for the volunteers mobilised by them will take place today at the Unnayan Bhavan Auditorium.

Sunday, 8th Jan

The survey has started. Here is a clipping from Bartaman

Digha = Goa

We went to Digha for a day. We means Shri Firhad Hakim, Shri Rachpal Singh (ministers) and me. While going, we took the Duronto train: it served us lunch. We got down on return journey at Santragachi to quickly reach home via Kona and EM By Pass.

I am holding a meeting on Saturday at Kolkata to tie up a few ends.

Singapore in New Town

Here is a clipping from today's Anandabazar:

Tunnel Boring Machines Arrive

"We" went to Subhas Sarobar today morning to see how the Tunnel Boring Machines will function for the East West Metro.
Q: Who are we three in the picture below?

We also inaugurated our bio-metric system today. Shri Firham Hakim, Minister, inaugurated this. Here is a picture:

MAR 2,.. and Digha Festival

That is in today's Times of India. The following advertisement appears in today's Grafitti of Telegraph, issued by the Tourism Department:

Kalyani Lottery Application in January

For the 110 plots in Kalyani, additional applications will be invited in January 2012. Advertisements were published in today's Anandabazar and other papers:

To introduce a system of Fire Audit in New Town, we published an EOI. Here is a clipping from Anandabazar:



Freehold Land (Non Residential) through Competitive Bid by Hidco

In our Board meeting yesterday, we removed certain restrictions on applications in the health sector and added a clause on maximum period set for completion. Suman Chakraborti's article on Times of India is as follows:

The formal advertisement that appeared in some papers is as follows. We will publish the advertisements in Anandabazar and Telegraph tomorrow.

Indira Bhavan with UD

Yesterday the possession of Indira Bhavan was returned back yo the Urban Development Department. Here is a story that had appeared few days ago in Times of India.

We are actively considering few alternative uses. One of these is office cum guest house. But no decision has been taken as yet.
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I recently submitted my resignations from the Boards of five Joint Venture Companies of KMDA where I was either the Chairman or Director. I have cited that I was unable to devote adequate time and attention to the functioning of these JVCs. A part of the unstated reason related to the AMRI incident: you are responsible for anything bad as well if you are on the board.

Branding

Our earlier ad on engagenment of an agency for branding Hidco was not responsive. So we have published another on Christmas day (this is from Times of India)

Land to National Security Guard

Here is a story that appeared in today's Bartaman:

Here is a link in today's Hindustan Times (page 1) that was brought to my notice by someone:

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HKL/2011/12/25/ArticleHtmls/ht-SPECIAL-Rajarhat-probe-panel-under-cloud-25122011001059.shtml?Mode=1

CM gives go-ahead

I requested Hon'ble CM to kindly visit the eco-tourism site on way to airport on the dais yesterday. We were in the foundation stone laying ceremony for Alia University / Haj House at Rajarhat New Town. She agreed and I left the dais a little ahead to receive her.
She seemed to like the ambience but was eager that the main project got started early. She gave the go-ahead for phase 1 of the eco-tourism project after seeing the concept on the pavilion on the spot.

Here are two photos (courtesy: Chandana Roy Chowdhury of BUIDL):

National Conference on Jnnurm

Dr Manmohan Singh spoke at the inaugural session at Vigyan Bhavan that Urban/Town Planning must have a component for the poor. This is the second National Conference that I attended. Did I perceive a lack of enthusiasm? Perhaps because it is the last year of Jnnurm?

Metro Alignment in New Town

Soil testing has started along the Major Arterial Road in Rajarhat New Town for the Garia-Airport Metro Line. The alignment is as follows. For an alternative version and bigger image, see Hidco's site at www. wbhidcoltd.com

Why do IT Sector employees go out of office complex to eat in roadside stalls?

We had today the monthly meet on beautification of New Town. This time, it was within the Unitech premises. The campus was great, we had a fruitful meeting and there was a (surprise) sit-down lunch thrown in for all of us.
I was quite interested in the findings of a study by DLF. They wanted to find out why employees go out to eat in unhygienic roadside stalls even though the IT Cos provide canteen facilities.
The finding was quite startling.
Price was not a major factor - food was almost similarly priced. In fact tea is often free - but most people go out to have tea @ Rs 5
Why?
Because they want a smoke too ! And smoking is not allowed inside.
.... I suggested that We could build a proper smokers' joint (think of Cafe Coffee Day). All agreed ! Let's see
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In the afternoon we had a meeting on Shantiniketan in Minister Firhad Hakim's chamber. Shatabdi Roy, MP & Chairman SSDA and Panchayat Minister were also there.
A Committee with Jogen Chowdhury, Dulal Mukherjee, Supriyo Thakur etc have been formed.
A team of engineers will go to Shantiniketan on 16th Dec

Park Inauguration by CM Postponed

We were to have an inauguration of a Children's Park at New Town Rajarhat today at 2.45pm. But this has been cancelled / postponed in view of the fire in AMRI Dhakuria today where 50 persons may have died.
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Here is a photo appearing in North Bengal Edition of Anandabazar about Tea Park Inauguration in Siliguri yesterday. It has been referred by Avick. Yes Avick, the person to the right of / beside MIC North Bengal (in blue jacket) is me:

Siliguri Beautification

Came back from Siliguri today. Moved around the town yesterday afternoon and held meeting with Siliguri Municipal Corporation, SJDA and others including DMs & SPs. Basically, I talked about ensuring some quick gains (repair roadside railings and paint, put in plotted plants from nursery etc) and engage a professional to draw up urban renewal plan.
Here are some reports that appeared today in the North Bengal Editions that I read in the Bagdogra Airport today afternoon:

This was from The Telegraph. The following is from The Statesman:

(I can't figure out how to roate it!)

Planned Urbanisation Around Rajarhat Without Land Acquisition

Influenced by the Town Planning Schemes of Maharashtra-Gujarat, I am thinking of a modified plan where all stakeholders come together in a win-win situation to create planned townships.
I'll hold a brainstorming session on 14th Dec at Hidco. Twelve groups who had informed the govt earlier of their interest in the area earlier known as Brada have been invited. Here is an article in today's Times of India:

13-16 Jan Digha Festival

I visited Digha and Mandarmani yesterday. The site of the festival in Jan will be the following one in New Digha: it overlooks the sea.

There was a report in Bartaman today on this. It runs as follows:

Helicopter Service to Digha by January 2012 ?

I met Transport Secretary yesterday at Writers' Buildings and requested that a helicopter service to Digha may start latest from 13th Jan when our Digha Festival will begin.
B.P.Gopalika, Transport Secretary who was District Election Officer when I was Chief Electoral Officer, informed me that an Expression of Interest was just published to this effect. Here is the clipping that I collected from him (this is from Economic Times):-

Going to DMSDA tomorrow

What is DMSDA?
It is Digha-Mandarmani-Sankarpur Development Authority.
Addition of Mandarmoni was done in a Cabinet meeting day before yesterday.
Here is a clip from yesterday's Bartaman:

Urban Regeneration with British Inputs

I met a delegation of UK India at Minister Firhad Hakim's chamber. We talked of urban regeneration and new towns, new technology and riverfront development. There will be a UK funded 3 month 'scoping study'. Here in an article in today's Bartaman:

Here is another link to Times of India of today:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Eye-for-Kolkatas-London-dreams/articleshow/10912459.cms

Creative Agency

We will soon put up several non-residential plots in New Town Rajarhat for bid. We need a designing and creative team to help us design our campaign. There was an advertisement in yesterday's papers. Here is what appeared :

Rabindra Tirtha Kendra : Progress

I inspected the site of Rabindra Tirtha Kendra today. There was a Supervisor with whom I talked. There was quite a progress but I told General Manager (E) that more machines may be allocated. Here is a picture with my office in background:

In the morning, I, alongwith GM(E) Mr Arijit Sanyal met Mr Jogen Chowdhury, painter, to seek his advice on whom to contact for Rabindranath's statue. Here is a picture with him at his residence taken today morning:



GIS for Rajarhat New Town

Yesterday we held a long meeting with the scientific officers of the Science and Technology Department about creating a Geographical Information System for New Town, using satellite data and land & building data bank. The point that I emphasized was that (a) it should be time bound and payment will be milestone based with penalties for delay in a graded manner (for example, if the 3rd milestone was delayed by two weeks, a 2% deduction would be made, a 3% deduction for four week delay and so on) (b)it should integrate mouza plot and hidco plots numbers (c) we should be able to see time series ie how constructions were happening over the years. They have promised that they will revert with a proposal.

Committee of Beautification Meet on Board MV Sarbajaya

We held the meeting yesterday on launch. Here is a picture in Pratidin

Infosys & Wipro Land

We had a meeting yesterday with Minister of IT regarding land for Infosys and Wipro at 4 Camac Street building. I reconnected with some of the old staff when I was Chief Electoral Officer in 2006 onwards. There were some panchayat representatives and some there was some loudness. Here is a story that appeared in today's Times of India:

Airport Modernisation; Digha Beach Festival

Yesterday there was a Regional Review of JnNURM projects by Mr Sudhir Krishna, Secretary, GoI, UD. Besides West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa were there. It seems, West Bengal is doing fairly well.
In the afternoon, Mr Krishna went to HIDCO. Senior officers of CPWD were also there. It seems, the Airport Authorities need some land from CPWD who needs to be compensated for the land so given up. The CPWD has asked for a 5-6 acre plot in Rajarhat New Town for this. Suman Chakrabarti of Times of India spoke to me. Here is his report in today's TOI:

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The Tourism Department held a review meeting on Digha yesterday. I couldn't attend as I was engaged in the Regional Workshop. DSDA & BUIDL attended. Today's Telegraph carries this story:

No Facebook / Blogging in China..

Just back from China. Went to Beijing and Xiamen. Amazing China experience. Here is a picture in a yatch in the marina at Xiamen. But there was no facebook. There was no blogging allowed. Such restrictions make me value the freedoms we experience daily in India.

"Ministerial Workshop on Integrated Coastal Management and Ciy Development"

I am now in Delhi airport, waiting to board Air China Flight number CA 948 for Beijing. It will leave at 0315 hrs (it is now 12.40 am, 30th Oct). Flight time to Beijing is 5 hr 40 min. Flight will reach Beijing at 11.45 am (China Time).
 This is a 7-day workshop and includes a visit to the coastal town of Xiamen. I am going at the nomination of Govt of India and invitation of Govt of China, Ministry of Commerce (all expenses by Govt of China). I will present a paper on the ICZM project being undertaken in Digha. I will also mention of the Digha Beach Festival 13-16 Jan 2012 !

"Mission Green"

I held a video conference with all DMs yesterday. Chairmen of HQ Municipalities and Development Authorities were also present. The idea was to create a synergy among the ULBs, Development Authorities and District Administration.
There has been few press stories today in The Statesman, The Times of India and The Hindustan Times (search Google). Here is the clipping from today's Hindustan Times:

Last Few Days For Trauma / Geriatric Centre Application

Here is a report in Anandabazar today. Last date for application is 31st Oct 2011.

Marina

Today's Anandabazar carries an article on the "Kolkata Eye". I, alongwith others, went to see a possible site on the Howrah bank of Hoogly River, near the place where the Vidyasagar Setu meets the bank.
Close by, there are certain piers that were constructed when the Bridge was being built. These could be a possible site for a River Marina. Here is a picture that I took on my Sony Digital DSC H55:

Plan for Rajarhat

Can we have a scheme of planned urban development without acquiring land? The Town and Country Planing Act suggests a way forward. I will hold a meeting today at UD Department in the morning to discuss a strategy for areas outside New Town but within its Planning Area. Bartaman today talks of this. Here is a clip: