Smart Pole Demonstration in front of New Town Business Cllub

Day before yesterday, a working smart pole was demonstrated by Energesia, an Indo Swedish Company. The pilot pole is installed in front of New Town Business Club's main gate. Anyone can see.
The company representatives showed is the LED street light lamps, the CCTV (I could see the images on a nearby laptop), the air quality monitor (I could see on my mobile when I connected on Wi Fi coming from the pole), the video on the displays, the Wi Fi connectivity to the internet. We were told that the LED lights and displays on kiosks could be remotely controlled.
The pole (12m) is quite taller than the usual street poles (8m). an underground box of size 5ftx4ft is glass covered and water-tight (IP65 compliant, they said, like the new iPhone7)  and contain sophisticated electronics hardware including repeaters and boosters of cell phone signals. At the flick of a button, the glass box rose from the underground using hydraulic motors and stopped at a table-top height where engineers could service the machinery and change settings).
The cost, we were told, would be considerably higher than usual light poles and a PPP model may be worked out in the near future.
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Clippings:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/First-arbitration-sitting-takes-place-at-New-Town/articleshow/55436252.cms

First Arbitration in New Town Business and Arbitration Centre

Yesterday, the first arbitration sitting took place at the New Town Business and Arbitration Centre at the 4th Floor of the  building that houses the National Green Tribunal . A pic:

Justice Asim Banerjee (Retd) holding arbitration at NTBAC

The centre was created to encourage investment and business in the state and is a step forward towards making West Bengal business friendly. The Centre has Wi Fi, Video Conference, Cafeteria, Library, Consultation Chamber, Work Stations - all in a professionally designed decor. The centre is suitable for board meets and conferences, legal and arbitration proceedings, client and sales meetings, brainstorming sessions, interview and training and for start ups. There are three composite units and the facilities can be rented on an hourly basis at rates of Rs 1,180 - 1,540 per hour. Wi Fi is free. VC is Rs 250 per hour except the first hour which is Rs 500.
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Clipping:

Asian Age dt 15 Nov 2016

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Hidco-holds-pre-bid-conference-on-Biswa-Bangla-Convention-Centre/articleshow/55413617.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Note-cancellation-makes-impact-on-New-Town-commercial-activities/articleshow/55418201.cms

1,000 / 500 demonetisation

In facebook, I already posted on 8 Nov Tuesday how I went after dinner to get few Rs 100 notes from Bikash Bhavan ATM after queuing. That was personal to me.

Since then, I mention below few impacts that I've experienced on the office front.
- A self contributed fair was slated to be organised yesterday (Sunday) at New Town Business Club. Members and their families were quite enthusiastic of bringing in home cooked food to sell or handicrafts to be displayed. This had to be called off and postponed because there was a lack of small cash with members.
- Day before yesterday, on Saturday, the footfall in Eco Park (4,936) was low because of lack of cash. After one more day, with ATMs giving some money out, yesterday the footfall rose (10,166). While part of the rise was because of it was a Sunday, feedback suggests that new notes are coming in and there was an issue in judging the new Rs 2,000 notes (counters received 5 such yesterday) because the existing fake-note-detector-machines were not able to detect. Of course, PayTM inputs also rose from 168 on Saturday to 225 on Sunday.
- Day before yesterday, at Cafe Ekante, in the evening, diners' debit / credit cards could not be charged as the swipe POS machines showed "comm error". We insisted on Rs 100 payments.  We even allowed 3-4 diners to pay with old 500/1,000 because the machines didn't work and they didn't have 100 rs notes on them.
- Motorycles have to pay Rs 20 as parking fees in Eco Park. Last Wednesday, 5 bikers were still stranded at 8pm (Park closes at 7.30 pm in Winter) because they only had Rs 500. There was a stalemate and we decided to accept the notes only for these last 5 bikes.
- Officers and staff have been asking for - and we have been allowing - a couple-of-hours' absence to go to banks to change cash.
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Clipping:

Khabar 365 dt 14 Nov 2016

Times of India dt 14 Nov 2016

Pre Bid Meeting with Operators for Hotel with Convention Centre

Last week, on 10th Nov, I held a pre-bid meeting with operators interested in participating in bids for running the 100-key hotel attached to the Biswa Banga Convention Centre. Participants included Novotel, Swisshotel, Pride, Lalit Great Eastern, Park Hotel, and few others. I explained that participation in pre-bid conference was not compulsory and clarifications would be given on the web site by our Transaction Advisors Feedback Infra.

I mentioned the following:
- that the structural portion would be handed over without last finishing and without lose furniture
-  that operator would get real-time infoormation on the Convention Hall bookings whch are already pouring in
- that e-auction would be based on whoever gives the maximum revenue share over and above a fixed annual guarantee fee as specified in tender document
- that the most important aspect of the partnership would be to have a symbiotiic relatonship between Hidco (who would run the Convention Centre) and the operator (who would bring brannd recall).

There was a site visit after the meeting.

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Clippng:

Khabar 365 dt 13 Nov 2016

KIFF commences in Nazrul Tirtha

Lamp Lighting at KIFF at Nazrul Tirtha on 12 Nov 2016

Today morning at 10 am, through a small ceremony at Najrul Tirtha Hall 1, the 22nd KIFF 2016 began its journey at Nazrul Tirtha. This is the third year that we are having KIFF in NTirtha. The ceremony started with a dance performance by Mrinalini Biswas and a lamp lighting by Sudeshna Roy, Director, Abhijit Guha Co-Director and Gargi Ray Chowdhury, Actress of Amake Banchte Dao, the film that was shown as the inaugural film at Netaji Indoor Stadium yesterday and one that is slated to be commercially released in N'Tirtha on 2 Dec 2016.

Inaugural performance at N Tirtha

There will be four shows a day. Nazrul Tirtha Hall will be used by KIFF for evaluating competitive entries.
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Millennium Post dt 12 Nov 2016

Aajkal dt 12 Nov 2016

The Statesman dt 12 Nov 2016

Pratidin dt 12 Nov 2016

MWM-2 today

There are 48 wax/wax-like models in MWM now, with 23 additions in MWM2. The new additions are as follows (barring Aliens / Children/ Scary and Children Zones):

A) BENGAL WALK OF FAME:- FIGURINES:
1} SARAT CHANDRA  CHATTOPADHYAY - Eminent Novelist
2) RAJA RAMMOHAN RAY - Renowned Social Reformer
3) ISHWAR CHANDRA VIDYASAGAR - Key Figure Of Bengal Renaissance
4) RISHI AUROBINDO - Indian Nationalist, Philosopher.
5) PANDIT RAVI SHANKAR- Legendary Sitar Player.
6) HEMANTA MUKHERJEE - Eminent Playback Singer.
7) SATYAJIT RAY - The Great Writer and Film-Maker.
8) SATYENDRA NATH BOSE - Eminent Bengali Physicist and Mathematician.

B) HOLLYWOOD SECTION FIGURINES
1) MICHAEL JACKSON - Eminent Singer and Philanthropist
2) TOM CRUISE - Eminent Hollywood Actor and his best movies are "Mission Impossible", "Magnolia" etc.
3) JOHNY DEPP - Eminent Actor, Producer and his famous movies includes "Pirates Of The Caribbean".
4) BRUCE WILLIS - Eminent Actor, Producer, and Singer. Best movies includes "Die Hard","The Jackal
5) BRUCE LEE - Eminent Actor and Martial Artist. His Best Movies are "Enter the Dragon","Fist Of Fury"
6) BRAD PITT - Eminent Hollywood Actor. His Best Movies are "Ocean's Eleven","Mr and Mrs Smith".
7) ANGELINA JOLIE - Hollywood Actress, Film-Maker and Humanitarian. Best Movies are "Mr and Mrs Smith","Salt","By The Sea" etc.
8) DANIEL CRAIGE- Eminent Hollywood Actor, is most famous for his role as James Bond. His Best Movies are "Skyfall" ,"Spectre".
9)JULIA ROBERTS - Eminent Hollywood Actress.Her Best Movies includes "Pretty Woman","Erin Brocovich","Notting Hill".
10)NICHOLE KIDMAN - Eminent Australian Actress. Her Best Movies are "Eyes Wide Shirt","Moulin Rogue".
11)AUDREY HEPBURN - Eminent British Actress and recognized as a Film and Fashion Icon. Her Best Movies are "Breakfast at Tiffany","Roman Holiday","My Fair Lady" etc.

C) CHILDREN SECTION FIGURINES
1) MR. BEAN - Famous Comedy Character.
2) HARRY POTTER.

D) SCIENTIST'S SECTION FIGURINE
1) ALBERT EINSTEIN - One of the greatest scientists, ,nobel laureate.

E) SPORT SECTION FIGURINE
1) LIONEL MESSI - Eminent Argentine Footballer.

The artists are Susanta Roy and Subimal Das. This will be inaugurated today afternoon by Hon'ble Chief Minister by remote from Netaji Indoor Stadium. Visitors can enter from tomorrow. MWM1 was inaugurated by Hon'ble CM on 10 Nov 2014 from Netaji Indoor Stadium by remote. Since then, 3.23 lakh (3,22,670 to be precise) visitors have gone in. Here is the advertisement that has been published today.

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Clippings:

Khabar 365 dt 11 Nov 2016

Millennium Post dt 11 Nov 2016

Khabar 365 dt 10 Nov 16

Ei Samay dt 10 Nov 2016

The Statesman dt 10 Nov 2016

Jugasankha dt 10 Nov 2016

Digital Payments in New Town

The Govt of India has cancelled Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes yesterday evening.
I was recounting the digital money options already available in New Town:
 
1. All salary in Hidco are paid by bank transfers
2. Debit / Credit Cards are accepted through POS machines at Cafe Ekante, Business Club, Nazrul Tirtha, MWM
3. BookMyShow enables one to buy tickets for movies at Nazrul Tirtha and theatres in Rabindra Tirtha
4. PayTM is operational at Eco Park, MWM, Cafe Ekante, Nazrul Tirtha
5. Online booking of Ekante Cottages through website and bank transfer
6. We are also planning to make all applications for 100 residential plots on-line with netbanking for application money
7. Payment to work agencies is done through RTGS and other netbanking options
8. NTESC, a joint venture of Hidco, accepts online payments
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Clippings:

Khabar 365 dt 9 Nov 2016

Aajkal dt 9 Nov 2016

Millennium Post dt 9 Nov 2016

MWM2 to be opened on 11 November 2016

It was tentatively decided today that Hon'ble CM will inaugurate by remote switch the Phase 2 of Mother's Wax Museum (at 5th Floor) from Netaji Indoor Stadium on 11 November 2016. The present MWM is in 6th floor.
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Clippings:

Bartaman dt 8 Nov 2016

Anandabazar dt 8 Nov 2016

Khabar 365 dt 8 Nov 2016

Millennium Post dt 8 Nov 2016

Call 90511 63800 for Home Delivery for Cafe Ekante

Cafe Ekante started its journey a little more than a year ago (15 May 2016 we celebrated its first birthday). It is on the island of Eco Park and was initially meant basically to cater to the guests in the cottages. It quickly adapted itself to meet the needs of visitors to the Eco Park. The unique proposition was : this is the only restaurant in the country where you get into a boat to have a cup of coffee and delicious Bangla food.  The boat ride of 2 minutes is extraordinarily satisfying and the ride is free. A dedicated jetty with a snack counter was commissioned quickly to keep visitors engaged while waiting for he boat to turn around. While in these few months Cafe Ekante expanded rapidly (Mother's Wax Museum, House Boat & Lawn on island, Two at Nazrul Tirtha, Bus Stand at Action Area 1, Seniors' Park and New Town Business Club), the dependence on Eco Park visitors has not gone away. Thus, the Cafe Ekante remains closed on Mondays since Eco Park also remains closed. (For indoor guests in cottages and special prior bookings, service is available on Mondays).

We have started breakfasts too, but response has been lukewarm.

To think of ways of expanding, we had a discussion last week with Zomato (see
https://www.zomato.com/kolkata/cafe-ekante-rajarhat-new-town/info ) . We agreed that by introducing home delivery services, we could provide food to homes not only on Mondays but also for lunch / breakfast. Unfortunately, existing service providers like Swiggy don't yet have delivery network in New Town. So we decided to tie up with a new independent New Town based home delivery organisation. It is now operational.

Dial 90511 63800 for home delivery in New Town, Chinar Park, Sector 5 Salt Lake area for fine food from Cafe Ekante.
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Clippings:

(Top and below) Page 1 of HT dt 7 Nov 2016

Times of India dt 7 Nov 2016

Khabar 365 dt 7 Nov 2016

Telegraph Metro dt 7 Nov 2016

Anandabazar dt 7 Nov 2016

Aajkal dt 7 Nov 2016

Aajkal dt 7 Nov 2016

Aajkal dt 7 Nov 2016

More Water Kiosks in New Town

Water Kiosk in Car Parking Zone near Tata Medical

Few weeks ago, Hidco installed Water ATM in Eco Park near Gate 2. This has proved to be very popular and hundreds of visitors take drinking water (chilled or normal) through a coin operated system. The technology used is German and daily computerised reports on performance are generated that engineers monitor to ensure quality and purity.

M/s Rupa had proposed few months ago that they would install and operate water kiosks if a site, water source and power connection is provided. Three such kiosks were put into operation last Friday: one at the fee parking area near Tata Medical Centre (photo above), one near Balaka Abasan and one near a market in Action Area 1. All three would generate cold water, duly purified in a standard aqua-guard machine and chilled through a standard machine. Input water is from pure treated Hoogly Water (I cannot resist stating that residents  are very very happy at the quality of water in New Town after the commissioning of the 100mgd surface water project earlier this year . The water now, they say is soft, iron-free and adequate, unmixed with any ground water. No more white shirts becoming reddish after a couple of washes, they say !). A stainless steel glass will also be attached to the kiosks. What is important is that persons from the Trust will be deputed to do servicing and maintenance very often to ensure that the kiosks run properly.  At the time of inauguration, I requested the MD of Rupa Trust Mr K B Agarwal to put in more such water kiosks in New Town.
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Clippings:

Times of Inddia dt 6 Nov 2016

Times of India dt 6 Nov 2016

Khabar 365 dt 6 Nov 2016

100 Residential Plots for Citizens

I held a follow up meeting yesterday with GM(Marketing) Hidco Krittibas Naik and others regarding the matter of operationalisation of the Cabinet Decision to allot 100 residential plots of sizes 2.5-5.0 kottahs in Action Area IIB (somewhat close to the Owl More, opposit Eco Park) through transparent means such as lottery and e-auction. There will be no Chairman's Quota or Special Quota.

We decided to target first week of December 2016 as the date of launching the scheme and the proposed last date of application would be in end January 2017. The application process would be, for the first time, done entirely online.  This will prevent the time, effort and error in transcribing from a paper form. We plan to talk to our software team to devise a simple method of filling up an online application form, use net banking for application money deposit and upload a pdf brochure for downloading. For those who may have a problem in online forms, a HelpDesk will be opened where Hidco staff will assist the applicants to fill up the forms online.

Of the 100 plots, those that are slightly larger and close to wider roads will be allotted through e-auction. There are 25 such e-auction plots. These are in HIG category. The starting price will be intimated in the e-auction opening web page. One plot will be e-auctioned in one day ; thus 25 e-auction days (barring off days and holidays) will be required for this.

Remaining 75 plots will be allotted through lottery. Some are meant for MIG, some for HIG. Some plots are for individuals while others will be for co-operatives. All plots will be on lease for 99 years.

We have started designing the brochures and will finalise the software issues in course of next week. We also plan to put up 100 signboards on the plots so that site identification is easy for applicants.
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Clippings:

Millennium Post dt 5 Nov 2016

Khabar 365 dt 5 Nov 2016

Shankar Netralaya to open shortly

Lt Col Raghavan from Shankar Netralaya met me today and discussed about their plans to open the eye clinic at New Town shortly. They are now looking for a CC, their building having been completed, and we assured them that the CC (Completion Certificate) would be given to them by next week. He mentioned that the applications under the Clinical Establishment Act would be made thereafter, after he gets the CC. He mentioned that he expects to inaugurate the unit within the calendar year.

The Shankar Netralaya building is opposite to the Unitech IT building. NKDA is building a beautifully planned food court where all roadside eateries can go. I held a meeting today with CEO NKDA, MS NKDA, CE NKDA and CA NKDA to chalk out the modalities of allotting stalls / food kiosks to existing vendors so that the roadside can be kept clean and free of shops.
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Clipping:

Bartaman dt 3 Nov 2016

Snehodia

Work started today at plot opposite Swapna Bhor. Of Shehodiya
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Clippings:

Millennium Post dt 2 Nov 2016

Times of India dt 2 Nov 2016

Bartaman dt 2 Nov 2016