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: