Gate in New Town

Gate at New Town entry in AA1

Displays in LED Boards of New Town

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Clippings:

Telegraph Metro dt 25 May 16

Front Page, Millennium Post, 25 May 16

Front Page, HT, 25 May 2016

Asian Age dt 25 May 2016

Ei Samay dt 25 May 2016

Front Page, Aajkal, 25 May 16

Pratidin dt 25 May 2016

Ebela dt 25 May 16

(Top and below)
Dainik Statesman dt 25 May 16

Anandabazar dt 25 May 2016

Khabar 365 dt 25 May 2016

New Town Kolkata approved as a Smart City

This morning, MoUD declared that among the 13 towns, New Town Kolkata is one of the Smart Cities:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/lucknow-chandigarh-agartala-among-13-new-smart-cities-announced-by-govt/story-nWevmVR5FirwKOSedqA4EM.html

http://www.c40.org/press_releases/press-release-c40-congratulates-new-town-kolkata-on-success-in-the-india-smart-cities-challenge

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Clippings:

Khabar 365 dt 24 May 2016

Millennium Post dt 24 May 2016

Easter Island Statues

Statues of Easter Island in Eco Park: being built

Yesterday, I , along with sculptor Rupchand Kundu and HIDCO officers went to see the progress of seven wonders of the world near Gate 4 of Eco Park. The Easter Island is in South eastern Pacific Ocean, in Chile, off the Peru coast. See this link for further details http://world.new7wonders.com/new7wonders-of-the-world-finalists/statues-of-easter-island-10th-16th-century-easter-island-chile/ .

The other wonders under construction include the Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer, Pyramids, Colosseum and Petra Jordan.

The project is slated to be completed within this year.
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Clippings:

Millennium Post dt 23 May 2016

Asian Age dt 23 May 2016

Smart Car Parking at Eco Park

At Gate 1 of Eco Park, about 500 cars can park. To give the users a smart experience in paying their parking fees, we have just installed a Smart Car Parking Management System. This is just in trial operation from last week.
The system operates as follows:
As soon as a car is near the entry gate, its presence is automatically sensed by a system that is buried under the ground (It works on interruption of earth's magnetic field by the metal body, I was told). The slot machine is then activated and the driver presses a button to get a credit-card-shaped plastic card where time etc is recorded in the embedded chip.
At the entry point, this card is "touched" in a machine. There is an operator who hands over a ticket printed on thermal paper showing details and fee. On payment, the operator pushes a button and the boom barrier opens for the car to go out.
There are many checks and balances built in. The best part is that it gives an accurate report every day on the number of parking (which hour was the busiest entry time today? what is the average duration of a parking car ? etc).
Soon the other car parking entries will have this system too.
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Clipping:

ToI dt 22 May 2016

Najrul Jayanti at Najrul Tirtha

The Information and Cultural Affairs Department will hold Nazrul Jayanti on Wednesday 25th May 2016 at Nazrul Tirtha. 

A preparatory joint site visit will take place tomorrow afternoon. Sample invitation card:

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A creation of Lintas, our creative advisor developed today is given below:

Bus Stand at Financial Hub

Passenger Shed near Alia

At Delhi's Banga Bhavan, I met VC, Alia University who requested me to construct two bus stand sheds near Alia University as students were finding it difficult to wait in the scorching sun. I told NKDA and saw yesterday that the bus shed was almost ready. Only painting remains to be done. Kudos to Abin De, EE MKDA who did this on a breakneck speed.
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Clipping:

Ei Samay dt 18 May 2016

Meeting on Drainage

Although we are all suffering due to the intense heat caused by lack of rains, we know monsoon is to hit Kolkata in a month's time and we decided to go on our drainage preparations. A technical meeting will be held by Executive Director, Hidco, next week with Irrigation, PHE, BMC, NKDA, HIDCO etc to take precautions, clean drains, position pumps etc.
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Clipping:

Ei Samay dt 17 May 2016

Cafe Ekante to go Global

Cake cutting at Cafe Ekante

With the cutting of a cake yesterday evening at 6pm by a young guest, a weeklong celebration of Cafe Ekante "Surprise yourself" started.
Even as I was going to the Cafe on boat, I met, within a span of five minutes, two foreign groups in Cafe Ekante:

With the launching of the anniversary celebrations, we'd now try to make Eco Park and Cafe Ekante more global, as a matter of strategy.

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Clippings:

Times of India dt 16 May 2016

Hindustan Times dt 16 May 2016

Aajkal dt 16 May 2016

Coast Management : Tajpur

Udaipur Beach

Yesterday, I was at Tajpur / Digha for a day. I made site inspections and meeting with Executive Officer Digha Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) Mr Sujan Datta, and technical officers and surveyors.
As per law, coastal zones are categorized into four zones, CRZ-I,II,III and IV (CRZ=Coastal Regulation Zone). Closest to the sea, CRZ-I is a "No Development Zone" while restrictive development is allowed in CRZ II, III and IV as per conditionalities. For Tajpur, the maps for the CRZ zones were not in existence and proposals would often come requesting permission to develop hotels / resorts etc. After prolonged efforts, finally, at the formal request and payment of costs to Institute of Wetland  a map on scale 1:1,25,000 has been prepared for a 7 km radius around Tajpur. I had an extensive study of the map and the site with officers yesterday. We decided that we would facilitate prospective investors to set up resorts only after following CRZ and Land Use (LUDCP) norms. We decided to allow consultation with the maps at DSDA office so that tour project developers would have a fair idea of what is allowed even before spending any time and effort. DSDA would then help them in moving with formalities of Forms 1,2 etc that are needed under Coastal Regulations, the Pollution Control clearances that are needed and also permissions for mutation, building construction etc. I may add that this was a long-pending demand of the local hoteliers' association in Tajpur and they had even come to meet me in a group at UD some time back (August 2015, Tajpur Sea Coast Hoteliers Welfare Association)
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Clippings:

Asian Age dt 15 May 2016

Aajkal dt 15 May 2016

Ei Samay dt 15 May 2016

HT dt 13 May 2016

Tall Tree Nursery

Tall Tree Nursery in AAID

 On the canal bank opposite to Upasanasthal, an area of 5 acres have been permitted to be used by Forest Department's Wasteland Development Corporation on a 50:50 profit sharing basis. I went there yesterday with Mr Raju Das, IFS, MD and was impressed by the progress made so far. Lakhs of saplings of various sizes (tiny to tall - six inches to six feet) and species (bakul, jaba, neem, palm, coconut, guava, mango, hedge and many others) have already been planted and will be used to feed ongoing government projects across the state. Plans for selling to the public are also there. I also asked Mr Das to do extensive plantings, with emphasis on avenue plantation and woods, in New Town in the coming monsoon.
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Clipping:

Times of India dt 14 May 2016

Overbridge on Biswa Bangla Sarani, near Convention Centre

Ground Breaking on Overbridge
12 May 2016

The canalside road of Bagjola Canal crosses Biswa Bangla Sarani or Major Arterial Road close to Hidco Bhavan. A long-planned overbridge to reduce crossing at the high speed MAR was needed. But midway, the project was lying stalled due to technical reasons, one of them bneing the fact that the Airport-Garia Metro Line would pass over it. . After months of technical consultations, a revised design was finalised and yesterday work started. The time for conclusion would be 9 months. The flyover, when completed, would connect many village and per-urban zones just on the other side of Bagjola Canal (side opposite to New Town) and would reduce intersections.
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Clippings:

Salt Lake Telegraph:
13 May 2016

Bagjola improvement in New Town

Bagjola Canal is a very vital drainage canal of Kolkata. Water from Barrackpore, DumDum Airport, VIP Road, Chinar Park, New Town and many other places drain out to Chowbhaga and then to the sea through rivers. In New Town, it passes by the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre / Presidency University sites (both under construction) as well as much of Action Area 1. The canal is under Irrigation Department who maintain it and desilts it from time to time. However, the quality of water is not good as untreated water and wastes are dumped in it. Last week, I met the Principal Secretary Irrigation Department Mr Naveen Prakash and discussed how we could jointly make improvements in the Bagjola Canal. Irrigation Department has agreed to do a study on sources of pollution. Hidco agreed to do improvement interventions like canal bank beautification, putting up of aeration wheel to increase BOD in canal water, plant saplings, encourage boating etc in consultation with Irrigation Department.
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Clippings:

Anandabazar dt 12 May 2016

Millennium Post dt 12 May 2016

Times of India dt 12 May 2016

Car Parking at Tata Medical Centre

New Car Parking near TMC
9 May 2016

New Town is emerging as a Health Hub with about 20 institutions connected with health setting up their centres. Recently, 3 e-Health Centres are also being set up by NKDA. The Apollo Health Day Care unit was opened recently. The Tata Medical Centre is going on full swing for constructing their annexe building. This was creating a problem of parking and many families of patients and were finding it difficult to park their cars. Accordingly, NKDA started setting up a 100 car parking zone. This was opened for public use last Monday. The ticketing / time-keeping is done through an App on a smart mobile by the traffic attendant of NKDA. There is a security room anf pay-and-use toilet. I asked engineers of NKDA to also make provision for a drivers' shed with drinking water (aquaguard) as well as a tea shop.

Wi Fi Hotspots

Yesterday we had a detailed discussions with consultants KPMG about creating a Wi Fi network in New Town under the Smart City Plan. What was agreed to after detailed discussions and market information is that we'd opt for public Wi Fi Hotspot zones in Public Spaces such as Parks, Bus Stations and Metro Stations and allow broadband to private houses / commercial buildings. On request, any such building could be made Wi Fi enabled by using Access Points. It was also agreed that the finances would be so structured that a hybrid PPP method would be used where a Private layer would get a reasonable Return on Investment, would give good 24x7 service / marketing and deal better with technological obsolescence. On the other hand, a capital grant from Smart City fund would make the project viable.
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A creative for Cafe Ekante's one year was finalised today. Creative by Lintas.

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Clipping:

Times of India dt 10 May 2016

Kobi Pronam

Nazrul Tirtha: 7 May 2016
Chalachchitre Kabi Pronam

Rabindra Tirtha : 8 May 2016
Kobi Pronam

Statue at Rabindra Tirtha
Appears in a new publication
published on 8 May

Four years ago, in 2012, Rabindra Tirtha was inaugurated on 22se Shraban (Aug 2012). Since then we have observed 25se Boisakh every year (2013 onwards) from 7 am at Rabindra Tirtha. Doordarshan have been covering it live along with Jorasankho function. this year too this happened. In addition, this year we did Kobi Pronam in films at Najrul Tirtha yesterday at Nazrul Tirtha. Direc Sekhar Basu came and we showed his film Jogajog that was released on 25se Baisakh last year. In the afternoon, a play Rajrakta (based on Bisarjan) will be held at Rabindra Tirtha while culturl programmes will continue at Open Air Theatre at Najrul Tirtha. At Upasanasthal too, yoga trainees observed Rabindra Jayannti at early morning. Swapna Bhor will have a evening of Tagore songs today. Folk songs at Eco Urban Village will also be held. Caf Ekante will serve Thakurbarir Mangsho.
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Clippings:

Millennium Post dt 8 May 2016

Khabar 365 dt 8 May 2016

One Year of Cafe Ekante

On 15th May 2016, Cafe Ekante will complete one year. We will celebrate a week-long celebration from Sunday 15 May to Sunday 22 May 2016.  On 15 May 2015 on Eco Island, the lake facing glass walled Cafe Ekante with its distinctive bamboo light shades and sital pati covered tables was launched. In the year that passed by, many new extensions have taken place: (1) Open Air Lawn (2) House Boat (pic above) (3) Floating Boat (4) Eco Park Jetty (5) Nazrul Tirtha and (6) Swapna Bhor Seniors' Park. A Zomato "chain web page" is being launched soon to bring these all together. Three more extension counters are being planned and are expected to be operational within a month or two; these are (a) Mother's Wax Museum Cafetaria (b) Stall at first rotary bus stand near Eastern Highs (c) New Town Business Club.

It is a journey worth recounting. We have managed to make a small mark with guests from India and abroad enjoying the boat ride, the spectacular view and the unique bangla, bangla fusion, muglai and continental food. We are proud to say that the operation is not outsourced but is being run by a professional unit under HIDCO that is a profit centre and has already been above the break even mark.

In the Sunday-to-Sunday celebrations starting 15th May 2016, we plan to produce a surprise special dish, off the usual menu, for each of the seven days. There will also be a "EDLP" (Each Day Lowest Price), that is, every day, one item from the menu will be at a special very low price - lower than any nearby restaurant of comparable standard. Furthermore, in association with Big FM, there will be an opportunity of special audition: aspiring young singers can video record their songs on the houseboat and upload to Big FM site ad the best one will be given an opportunity to sing in the radio FM Channel. In addition, a RJ of Big FM may also come for a live event one of the seven days (details are being worked out).
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Clipping:

Millennium Post dt 7 May 2016

Adopting Assets : Meeting at Delhi

Meeting at Ministry of Water Resources, Delhi
2 May 2016
(Right: Shashi Sekhar, Secretary, MoWR)

The Empowered Steering Committee on Namami Ganga met today at Shram Shakti Bhavan, New Delhi. I attended along with Sutanu Kar, Project Director. Among other things, it was decided that ghats and crematoria would be put up for adoption in exchange of co-branding. In other words, NGOs, NRIs and Corporates would be approached through web-based notices and otherwise to take over maintenance of the ghats / electrical crematoria after the initial one year of government maintenance. Corporates may also donate capital which can be put into an endowment fund earnings from which can be used to run the crematoria / ghats. From West Bengal, we have already submitted eleven Detailed Project Reports and these are now being evaluated by IIT Kharagpur who has been appointed as Third Party Appraisal Institute by NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga). I told Sutanu Kar to publish notice for adoption of the crematoria on the website of SPMG (State Programme Management Group) soon.
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Mr Rajiv Gauba has taken over as Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development from today. He replaced Mr Madhusudan Prasad who retired on 30 April 2016. I called on him today and recalled that when he was Joint Secretary in MoEF, he had laid the groundwork for the NGRBA framework and I was engaged in policy level conversation many times. We had even gone in a group together with World Bank to Singapore to see how they were dealing with their river.

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Clipping:

from online Khabar 365
dt 2 May 2016