In a step towards fulfilment of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's poll promise of beautifying the metropolis to match London, the West Bengal government is initiating a project to beautify a stretch along the Hooghly river.
The first phase of the project, covering a one-km stretch along the river from Babughat to the Millennium Park, would begin from August 2, secretariat sources said.
Banerjee recently gave the clearance after a high-level meeting at the secretariat, attended by Minister of State for Railways Mukul Roy, PWD Minister Subrata Bakshi, Urban Development Minister Firad Hakim, Tourism Minister Rachpal Singh, Mayor Sovan Chatterjee and officials of the Army and the Kolkata Port Trust.
At the meeting, Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), which will implement the project, gave a presentation of the beautification plan prepared by the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.
While the original plan covers a 10 km stretch along the river's Left Bank from Pramamik Ghat at Baranagore in the north to Dahi Ghat in the Garden Reach in the city's southern fringes, it was decided at the meeting that the initial work would be taken up on a one kilometre stretch from Babughat to the Millennium Park, the sources said.
The project, called 'Hooghly River Front Development, Kolkata,' envisages setting up of a cultural node in the northern end and a nature retreat, along with development of the jetties at the Fairlie Ghat, Millennium Ferry Ghat, Babu Ghat and Outram Ghat.
Besides, it also includes setting up a 'Kolkata Square,' an open air theatre and a 'Water Shrine' along the river.
RITES project coordinator DC Mitra said the project plan focuses on increasing the visibility of the Hooghly and restoring the lost heritage around the riverbank.
Citing an example, he said that the famous Eden Gardens off the riverbank has come to mean only the stadium today, with very little public interest in the actual garden with its landmark wooden pagoda at the centre.
"Also, people have heard of the Bandstand, but do not know where it actually is. The project envisages restoring the Eden Gardens and the nearby Bandstand to their full glory," Mitra said.
In the first phase of the project, the Bankim Chatterjee statue roundabout behind Eden would be decongested with the relocation of the inter-state bus stand there and removal of the roadside eateries.
"Once the place is decongested, something called the Kolkata Square will come up there. It will have, as in many foreign countries, a map of the metropolis along with its heritage landmarks would be etched on the road itself for the benefit of outsiders. A pillar would also be installed with the names of the luminaries from the city with their dates of birth," Mitra said. In course of the project, the jetties along the Hooghly would be refurbished to enable upto six yachts of berth on them at any given time, Mitra said.
A 'Gateway of Kolkata' would be set up at the abandoned KoPT cargo sheds near the iconic Howrah bridge.
To bring back the glory of north Kolkata which was the epicentre of what is known as the 'Bengal Renaissance,' a Literary Square would be set up near 'Mayer Ghat' at Bagbazar, associated with the memory of Sri Sarada Devi, wife of the famous saint Sri Ramakrishna.
Besides, heritage projects would also be taken up at Kumartoli, famous for studios of clay sculptors and artists.
Several commercial complexes, including shopping malls and entertainment centres, would also be constructed along the riverfront, Mitra said, adding that the height of the station buildings of the Circular Railway, which runs along the river bank, would be increased to house commercial complexes.
While the state government would be involved only in the infrastructure development for the project, the commercial ventures envisaged in the project would be taken up either through the PPP model or purely on private ownership basis.
According to Mitra, funds of Rs 280 crore would be required for the first phase of the project.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, keen to involve itself with the project, has completed the work of dismantling the commercial hoardings and billboards in the city's heritage BBD Bag area.
