Green Workshop on 2 April 2015

The Green Building workshop will be held on 2 April 2015, we decided today. We are inviting all stakeholders. I talked to Pr Secy Municipal Affairs today and requested his presence.I am going today to Delhi for a meeting on Clean Ganga mission in the context of a probable meeting by Hon'ble PM on 26th March. In course of my visit to Delhi I will also invite few Govt of India officers and experts to the workshop.
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Here are two clippings from today's papers:

Khabar 365 dt 19 March 2015

Ei Samay dt 19 March 2015

ASEAN Journalists Visit New Town

Yesterday, a group of 17 journalists from various ASEAN countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam etc visited Eco Park, Wax Museum and Banglar Hat. The tour was organised by the Ministry of Externam Affairs, Govt of India. They spent several hours and were quite overwhelmed. Many took copious pictures and videos. They were particularly delighted with the Butterfly Garden and the-release-of-butterfly event, the glass house, the rose garden and the Mother's Wax Museum. Hidco gifted them a photo each with a wax model of their choice: many chose Mother Teresa and Gandhiji. Two pictures:

ASEAN journalists at Eco Park and MWM
(Picture courtesy Sanjit Sharma)

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A clipping from today's paper:

Ei Samay dt 18 March 2015

SGO Complex Review

I held a review meeting on the ongoing project of building State Govt Office Complex at Salt Lake, with Architect P R Das, Chief Engineering Advisor Tejen Som, EEm UD and M/s Adhunik. I realised that there were a  few issues. It was agreed that the MEP (Mechanical and Electrical Plan) would be started while  all good-for-construction drawings would be given within a month.

SGO Complex: Viewed from my office at UD Department 

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Last Monday, I chaired a session on IPCC Climate Change workshop at Oberoi Grand. Today Dr Prof Jayashree Roy emailed me a photo. Here it is:

Co-Panelist Diana Urge-Vorsatz on 9 March 2015 at Grand Hotel * *

Here is a clipping from today's paper:

Metro Telegraph dt 17 March 2015

Sit and Draw on 12 April

As a prelude to opening of the New Town Plaza, we are going to organise a Sit and Draw contest on Sunday 12th April. Artist Ashok Mullik is helping us organise it.There will be three categories. The topic will be announced on the day of the contest only. We are hoping to distribute the prizes on 15th April, Poila Baisakh Day, if possible.
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Here is a clipping from today's paper:

Hindustan Times dt 16 March 2015

Tea Lounge

I inspected the progress of Tea Lounge in Eco Park with Suman Neogy, GM Hidco. This is located near the tea garden that is being raised (saplings are more than a foot tall already, shade trees longer). The architecture is done by noted Architect Firm Dulal Mukherjee and Associates and would resemble a Tea Garden Bungalow in appearance with wide balcony on three sides and a glass-wall dining room inside. The triangular roof structure an interiors will highlight this ambiance. We decided to make a pathway around the lounge as well as a service entrance at the rear. It is expected to be commissioned within December. A site photo:

Tea Lounge under construcion in Eco Park
It is located between the Children's Park and Tea Garden

Two pictures of the artist's impression of the Tea Lounge when completed:

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Here are a few clippings from today's papers:

The Telegraph Metro dt 15  March 2015 

Times of India dt 15 March 2015

Times of India dt 15 March 2015

Kolkata Riverfront Development Ltd: First Meeting

A Joint Venture Company between KMDA and Kolkata Port Trust was formed today. It was incorporated as a Company by the Registrar of Companies on 10th March 2015. It met today for the first time with with three directors each from State Govt / KMDA on the one hand and KoPT on the other at UD Department (Nagarayan Building, Salt Lake). This Special Purpose Vehicle will act as the Concessioning Authority for development and setting up a giant ferries wheel at Millennium Park on PPP basis and also develop supporting tourism amenities in the area.
    A photo taken just after the first Board meeting:

First Board Meeting of KRDL

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An advertisement that appeared in today's papers:

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Few clippings from today's papers:

Salt Lake Telegraph dt 13 March 2015

Khabar 365 dt 13 March 2015

(Top & Below) Salt Lake Telgraph dt 13 March 2015

624 EWS Flats for Land Losers

624 housing flats of the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) category at Tarulia in Action Area 1 have been earmarked for allotment among land losers of the New Town project at affordable prices. The details can be seen at EOI_EWS . Brochures are available at selected bank branches. Last date of application is 30 April 2015
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Here is a clipping from today's paper:

Pratidin dt 12 March 2015

Design Concept of Bus Terminus-cum-Commercial Centre frozen

Today M/s Egis, the design consultants gave a revised presentation of the concept of the Inter-State Bus Terminal cum Commercial Centre based on the observations made by us earlier. They have adopted a modular approach so that a ground level parking area can be dovetailed with the monorail system once that comes into being. There will be 100 bus bays, level separated arrival and departure lounges like airport arrivals and departures, retail spaces, city bus connections, a 100 room 3 star 'Ginger' type hotel, banquet halls, and a set of office complexes. They will now embark upon detailed design.

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The Kolpex 2015 was inaugurated today at Najrul Tirtha. A first day cove was published with Howrah Bridge as the theme. There was a sit and draw competition for schoolchildren. I requested the CPMG to set up a smart post office at New Town. Two pictures:

PMG South Bengal, me and CPMG Ms Arundhaty
Ghosh (Above) and opening of the philatelic
exhibition at Najrul Tirtha (below)

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Two clippings from today's paper:

Times of India dt 11 March 2015

Calcutta Times dt 11 March 2015

Canaltop Solar Power Project

The work of 500 KW Solar Canaltop Project near Banglar Hat in Eco Park is progressing in full swing. I inspected the site recently. A photo:

Canaltop Solar Project using net metering: work in progress

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Here are few clippings:

Times of India dt 9 March 2015 (Top and below)

Anandabazar dt 9 March 2015

Khabar 365 dt 9 March 2015

Kolpex 2015 and e-Post Office

    The Chief Post Master General Ms Arundhati Ghosh and I had a meeting last month based on which the Postal Department has decided to hold its KOLPEX 2015 philatelic exhibition at Nazrul Tirtha on 11-13 March 2015. During the exhibition two special covers, one on "Howrah Bridge" and another on "Core Banking Solution” will be released on 11th March and 13th March respectively. Philatelic quiz, drawing competition and a power-point presentation on philately will also be organised during this three day exhibition.
    In course of the meeting, I requested Ms Ghosh to set up an e Post Office at New Town, considering that New Town is positioning itself as a Smart City with Wi Fi, on-line plan sanction, web-casting, CCTVs and e-tickets. She agreed that it would be done.
    A photo of the banner placed in front of Nazrul Tirtha yesterday:

Banner in front of Nazrul Tirtha

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The first book fair of New Town was inaugurated yesterday at the New Town Mela ground. A photo:

Retd Justice Shyamal Sen inaugurated the New Town Boi Mela
 on 7 March 2015

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The Sarkari Sangeet College of Bangladesh presented a great musical performance yesterday at Najrul Tirtha. A snap:

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A clipping from today's paper:

Times of India dt 7 March 2015

Mass Housing e-Auction

A 3-acre plot in Action Area III will be e-auctioned on 19 March 2015. The e-auction will be done through MSTC. The registration must be done within 17 March 2015. The details can be seen at Hidco_website . There is a starting price, an earnest money and turnover requirements.
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A set of four special high mast lights has just been installed in Eco Park. A photo:

High Mast lights in EcoPark

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Here is a clipping from today's paper:

Khabar 365 dt 7 March 2015

Basanta Utsav 2015

This was the third year of Basanta Utsav in Rabindra Tirtha. Performances were done by Dancers' Guild on first year, by Abhog on second year and this year it was by Niharika Dance Group. The theme closely resembles Shantiniketan's model on all the three years. There were even more people this year and many commented that they were happy to be here rather than at the crowded Shantiniketan. Doordarshan Bangla covered the event in full and telecast it in full as a "delayed live event" from 9 am till 11 am.

Two pictures:

Basanta Utsav 2015 at Rabindra Tirtha

Sei Samay dt 5 March 2015

Design for New Entry Plaza for Gate 2 of Eco Park

A new subway is being built under the MAR (Biswa Bangla Sarani) connecting Mother's Wax Museum with  Eco Park's Gate 2. The Gate 2 of Eco Park is a very popular gate not least because you can get to the waterfront quickest from this gate.

With help of architect Abin Chowdhury, we are designing a new entry plaza for gate 2, with integration of the outlet from the subway being built. The design that has been made by Abin Design and accepted by us looks as follows :

Artist's impression of new entry plaza at Gate 2 of Eco Park

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We had the roadshow on Legal and Financial Hub at the Glass House yesterday. A photo:

Minister Firhad Hakim, Justice AsimBanerjee, VC NUJS and me
(Photo courtesy Sanjit Sharma)

A clipping:

Khabar 365 dt 4 March 2015

Wi Fi trial run starts in New Town

Yesterday afternoon, I tested for myself the Wi Fi for New Town's Biswa Bangla Sarani. Mr Ananda Ganguly, Chairman NTTIDCO, explained that it will take some more time to test, stabilize and expand. However, I was satisfied at the speed that I got in my iPhone yesterday. A photo:

Trial of Wi Fi in front of Coal India Bhavan in AA-I on 2 March 2015

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A little while ago, I attended the inauguration of a new SBI Branch in Unitech Campus. Named an e-branch, it was quite tastefully done up, I found. A picture:

L-R (front): Me, Prashant Kumar CGM SBI, B Sriram, MD SBI

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Few forthcoming events:
3rd March (today), 7pm: Road show on New Town Financial and Legal
5th March : 7 am: Basantutsav at Rabindra Tirtha (DD telecast at 9.30 am)
7th March: 5 pm: Book Fair at New Town Mela Ground; 6 pm: Ebong Bangladesh at Najrul Tirtha
8th March (Sunday): 10 am: Drag Car Race at Action Area 2; 6 pm: Rong Doler Gan at Rabindra Tirtha
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Here is a clipping from today's paper:

Times of India dt 3 March 2015

Road Show on Financial & Legal Hub: Tuesday 3 March

We will hold a road show at the Glass House in Eco Park on Tuesday 3 March 2015 to launch the Financial and Legal Hub. A picture of the invitation card to the invitees:

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A delegation from the US Consultate met me at Hidco Bhavan last Friday (27th Feb 2015). A photo:

L-R: Prasanta Bhattacharya, M Chatterjjee, me,
Kellee Herrera, Architect Planner, Doryan Winkelman
Realty Specialist, Site Acquisition Division, US Deptt of State

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An excerpt from a recent edition of New Town Bulletin: