Team Najrul Tirtha

In the evening today, we had a crash brain storming session on how to get moving on the Nazrul Tirtha Project very quickly. Tomorrow there will be a site inspection. By Tuesday next, we hope to come up to a fair degree of preparedness. A photo at Hidco Bhavan this afternoon:

Team Najrul Tirtha: (L-R)
Salil, PPDatta, Kalyan Roy, me
Gopal Ghosh, Supriyo Das, Sutanu Kar, Ananda Ganguly,
P. Bhattacharya, Abin Chowdhury

* * *
In the morning, I was ina seminar organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce. I spoke briefly of the efforts made by us in trying to bring about densification of cities and of the possibility of posing Raghunathpur Planning Authority as a probable National Investment and Manufacturing Zone:

Seminar at Taj Bengal

(Later)
Here is a clipping from next day's Times of India:

NKDA Board Meet

At NKDA Board meeting today, we decided to make it compulsory for big buildings to install solar rooftop systems to meet 1.5% - 2% of their electrical load requirement. All upcoming large commercial / business establishments, schools, colleges, hospitals, large housing societies and govt establishments will have to meet this requirement. NKDA will ensure this in New Town while sanctioning building plans. Necessary amendment in Building Rules of NKDA will be made shortly.
* * *
I went to Nazrul Mancha today afternoon. Here is a picture on my Sonyh55:

In her speech, CM said that Nazrul Tirtha
should be completed in 12 months

* * *
Here is a clipping from the Telegraph of few days ago:

The headline is not quite a fact though !

* * *
Later:
A clipping from Anandabazar dt 26th May 2013

Bus

At a ceremony today morning, the Transport Department flagged off from Salt Lake Sector V, near Technopolis Building, a number of AC Buses that will connect the IT Hubs of New Town and Nabadiganta. Unitech-Joka (Route MB-7) new Bus Service would also start from today. A photo:

* * *
Here is a clipping from today's Khabar 365 on the Solar Energy Eco Park New Town:

Village Development

Under its neighbourhood development programme, Hidco has been doing village improvement works in adjacent rural belts of New Town. I visited a concrete road recently commissioned. A photo:

2 Km Concrete Road in Patharghata GP area

I again visited the main drainage pumping station at Jatragachi. It has progressed substantially since my last visit. A photo near Bagjola Canal:

There is a recently installed bus stop sign for Eco Park:

Fact Finding

We, the five-member Fact Finding Committee on the collapse of Ultadanga bridge, submitted our Report to Minister Firhad Hakim yesterday, less than three months after the day of collapse of the bridge. Here is a photo:

L-to-R m(standing)
Firhad Hakim, me, Arup Saha, Rajat Chatterjee, Udayan Sengupta, J Ganguly
At Unnayan Bhavan

* * *
Here is a clipping from yesterday's Bartaman:

* * *
(Later)
Here is a clipping from Anandabazar dt 2nd June 13:

Japan, German and British Meets

Yesterday I had meetings with (1) a delegation from JICA (2) a representative from Indo German Chamber of Commerce (3) Senior Trade & Investment Advisor from UKTI.
With JICA, we reviewed the progress of the Solid Waste Management Project now being implemented in Hoogly. We also talked of three big infrastructure projects.
With German Chamber, we talked of a vertical exhibition centre project.
With Rishikesh Chanda of UKTI, we talked of the impending UK delegation in 3rd June.

Two photos:

Ms Yui Nakamura, Mr Kazuyoshi Ohnuma, me & Mr Sarin

Mr Jan Thorsten Kotschau & me

Convention Centre for Destination Kolkata

Yesterday, in the Core Committee meeting on Industry headed by Chief Minister, ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar indicated that Kolkata needs a Convention Centre of World Class standard so that business groups can be attracted which in turn will spur tourism and finally transform Kolkata into an international destination. Chief Minister mentioned of the Convention Centre being designed for New Town Kolkata. It was decided that we will interact with ITC, Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and others before finalising the concept. Here is a clipping from today's Telegraph:

In fact I mentioned about the Convention Centre in this blog earlier. Here is the link http://principalsecretarysblog.blogspot.in/2012/08/hidcos-convention-centre-design.html .Tenders have since been been invited. This will be put up to the Board of Hidco in its meeting slated on Saturday 11th May.
* * *
Today is Pachishe Baisakh. Kabi Pranam was held in Rabindra Tirtha from 7am-10am in the morning. I offered flowers on the just installed bronze statue as my tribute to Tagore. A photo:

Jnnurm Buses

Just attended a day-long workshop in Delhi. Writing this from Delhi Airport. The workshop was a stakeholders' meeting convened by MoUD. Buses, depots, terminals, control centers etc would be assisted under Jnnurm. Not only the mission cities of Kolkata and Asansol, but also smaller towns will be eligible if covered by a Planning Area under the Town and Country Planning Act. I requested Secretary GoI to give models of modern bus depots so that while passengers can get airport-like ambiance, there can be commercial establishments on upper floors. I recalled the awe that I experienced on seeing the renovation of Kings' Cross railway in London when I'd been there with minister Hakim last year. Secretary Sudhir Krishna referred me to the pilot projects being executed in Karnataka. Mr Alapan Bandyopadhyay gave a formal presentation on behalf of Transport Department and explained the preparedness of the state in making DPRs. I suggested that New Town / Hidco may be included in the DPR.

VTC Building

The VTC building is nearing completion. Located in AA-III, it is being built on a  2.5 acre plot. A very large building of about 2.75 lakh sqaure feet and a 1,000 seater auditorium on the 5th floor, I inspected the progress with engineers recently. I was assured that the building could be commissioned by next month. Here is a picture:

* * *
Today's papers contain the announcement that the Shyamal Sen Commission will begin receiving complaints at Finance Centre, New Town from Monday onwards for the South Bengal districts. There was a full inspection and co-ordination meeting today morning by Home Secretary, Finance Secretary, District Magistrate, Addl CP, IG(R), WTL, Hidco Engineers, myself and others. Here is a photo in the conference room of Finance Centre this morning:

At Head of table, L-R:
HKDwivedi, Pr Secy Finance, BBanerji, Addl CS(Home), me

  * * *
Here is a press clipping that appeared yesterday:

Baisakhi Grows !

Eight months ago, I'd visited the site of Baisakhi Housing Estate where two towers were being built. The photo taken during that visit is available in this blog's post dated 15th Aug 12 (search it). The additional towers are now fully tall. Internal works are going on. Here is a photo taken during my visit today:

Four additional towers now under construction at Baisakhi

* * *
The bronze statue was installed today at Rabindra Tirtha. It is more than 2 tons in weight and quite some engineering feats were required to put it in the middle of the water body. A powerful crane with a long boom was brought and a gangway built for technicians to go to the pedestal. Here is a picture after the installation:

The man in white shirt on the pedestal is me !
[ So guess the height of the statue:) ]

Bank Branch Plot

Many banks often approach us for getting a space for setting up a Bank Branch in New Town's Action Area I. Today we published a notice in newspapers inviting applications for  a 457 sq m plot in Action Area I for setting up a bank branch. It will be allotted through e-auction to be held on 5th June.
* * *
In the citizen meet, there have been complaints that in the area near DLF building, the roadside makeshift stalls selling food items create a problem for the residents.We are creating a food court only a few hundred metres away. I had seen such a food court in Singapore where various small vendors make snacks of various types under one large roof. Here is a picture of the site which I visited recently:

Food Court in Action Area I, New Town:
Likely to be inaugurated in June 13

* * *
The 5 member Fact Finding Committee on the collapsed bridge in Ultadanga met today and made the draft final report. The final report will be put up to the members for a last review within a week by the member-secretary, I hope.