KMC pilot project to put overhead wires underground on Park Street

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will undertake a pilot project on Park Street with the idea of putting all overhead wires underground. Wires hanging from lampposts, trees and every vantage point are an eyesore in the city’s skyline, and hence the decision.

It will be done in conjunction with the State Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Department and a number of agencies like cable service MSOs (multiple system operators), CESC, BSNL and similar stakeholders who have overground wires.

After the pilot is completed, similar projects, with whatever modifications required, will be undertaken all across Kolkata.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing MSOs and cable operators during a meeting last April, had asked them to clean up the mess of wires and had urged all stakeholders, including the KMC, Public Works Department (PWD) and utility services, to chalk out a suitable plan.

 

Source: Millennium Post

Image source

Protests against fuel price hike will continue: Abhishek Banerjee

To protest against the sky-high fuel prices of recent days, Trinamool Youth Congress today organised a protest march in Kolkata today.

A protest march was held today from Subodh Mullick Square to Park Street, led by National President of AITYC and MP, Abhishek Banerjee. In the districts, the protest rallies will be taken out on Saturday and Sunday (May 26 and 27).

Addressing the party workers after the march ended, Abhishek Banerjee slammed the Centre for its anti-people policies.

Highlights of Abhishek Banerjee’s speech:

Our workers are our biggest assets. The party’s existence is because of our committed workers.

People from all walks of life are here today. There are people from various religions, communities here today. Our leader has taught us about communal harmony. Unity in harmony is our culture.

We had organised a protest rally several months back against FCRA Bill. We will lay down our lives but we will not allow the BJP to promulgate anti-people policies.

We are launching our protests against fuel price rise today. We will organise protest marches and rallies in every district. Our protest will continue till the hike in prices is not rolled back.

We will continue to raise our voices, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, whenever people have to bear the brunt of the policies of the Central Government.

Bengal is a land of culture. We challenge our opponents to fight us politically. Let the competition be based on facts and statistics. Let there be comparison of the work done by the Left in 34 years, Mamata Banerjee in 7 years and the Centre in 4 years.

They promised to bring ‘Achhe Din’. But where is ‘Achhe Din’? If people keep money at home, it is termed ‘black money’. And their money in banks is not secure. We arrested the kingpin of ‘Sarada’. Why has Nirav Modi not been arrested yet?

The Centre wants to decide what we will eat and what we will wear. They might control other States using money power, but Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal is not so meek.

They want to disturb the communal harmony in the State for political gains. We will not allow that. We will fight them back tooth and nail.

The death knell for the arrogant government at the Centre has been sounded. Our leader Mamata Banerjee was present at the swearing-in ceremony in Karnataka. The ‘bisarjan’ of the central government will take place in 2019.

They cannot fight us politically. They tried to foil the Panchayat elections. But people gave us 20 out of 20 Zilla Parishads. In 2019 also people will give us 42 out of 42 seats.

Opposition parties will become signboards in future. We will need microscopes to find them.

Click here to see the images of this protest march

 

Trinamool Congress to organise state-wide protest against fuel price hike

To protest against the sky-high fuel prices of recent days, Trinamool Congress and Trinamool Youth Congress are together organising a state-wide protest today. It will consist of protest marches in every district across the State, including in Kolkata.

In Kolkata, there will be a protest march from Subodh Mullick Square to Park Street, and it will be organised by Trinamool Youth Congress. In the districts, the protest rallies will be taken out on Saturday and Sunday (May 26 and 27).

It may be mentioned that the prices of petrol and diesel have touched all-time highs, having shot up in the past nine days.

The programme of protests was announced by Partha Chatterjee, Secretary General of Trinamool Congress on Wednesday.

Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had tweeted on May 20 in this connection: “We are very concerned about the rising prices of petrol and diesel. This will certainly affect prices all around. Common people, farmers and many will suffer.”

On May 22, All India Trinamool Youth Congress Chairperson and Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee had tweeted: “As we witness the magic of #AccheDin on this momentous occasion, Petrol turns 80 and Diesel turns 70. Please do send in your good wishes to their custodians for being so generous and sincere in raising the two.”

On May 21, there was a protest rally in Hooghly district in this connection in which common people had joined. Now, Trinamool and its youth wing are going to organise the protest rallies all across the state.

Source: Millennium Post

Mamata Banerjee inaugurates Kolkata Christmas Festival

Park Street has been lit up for a fortnight-long Christmas celebration which was inaugurated today by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Mamata Banerjee flagged off the festival, being organized by the State Tourism department with Apeejay Surendra, by lighting a Christmas tree at Allen Park.

It will include a series of cultural programmes along with food stalls at the city’s party street that will continue till January 2. Every evening, there would be performances by city’s well known bands.

The department is also organising a tour to the colonial churches of Kolkata, Bandel and Chandernagore. The trips will include visits to churches for midnight mass. Those willing to visit the Danish, Portuguese and French churches at Hooghly will have the option of attending the midnight mass at Bandel Church.

 

আজ কলকাতা ক্রিসমাস ফেস্টিভ্যালের উদ্বোধন করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

বড়দিন উপলক্ষে নতুন সাজে সেজেছে পার্ক স্ট্রিট। আজ অ্যালান পার্কে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের হাত ধরে এই আলোকসজ্জার আনুষ্ঠানিক উদ্বোধন হল।

একই সঙ্গে ক্রিসমাস ট্রি আলোকিত করে সূচনা হয়ে গেল ক্রিসমাস ফেস্টিভালের। একগুচ্ছ সাংস্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠান সহ বিভিন্ন খাবারের স্টল ও থাকছে এই উৎসবে। উৎসব চলবে ২রা জানুয়ারি পর্যন্ত। প্রত্যেক সন্ধ্যায় বিভিন্ন ব্যান্ড পারফর্ম করবে।

ক্রিসমাস ফেস্টিভালের পাশাপাশি প্রথমবার ক্রিসমাস ট্যুরেরও আয়োজন করেছে রাজ্য পর্যটন দপ্তর। ২৪ ডিসেম্বর রাতে কলকাতা, চন্দননগর ও ব্যান্ডেল চার্চ ঘোরানো ও প্রার্থনায় অংশগ্রহণেরও সুযোগ থাকবে এই প্যাকেজে।

A new Biswa Bangla store opens at Park Street, Kolkata

Bringing under one roof the whole gamut of the creative genius of Bengal – ranging from handloom-handicrafts to literature – a new “Biswa Bangla” store was thrown open to the public today at Park Street, Kolkata.

Traditional sarees, beautiful handloom products and hand-crafted marvels of Bengal, and Darjeeling tea as well as Bangla books, CDs of Bengali music and classic films will be available at the Biswa Bangla store.

It is expected to be the one-stop shop for everything Bengali – an initiative that is aimed at catering to domestic consumers as also building brand Bengal in the international market.

This is the eighth showroom of ‘Biswa Bangla’. Other showrooms are located at Dumdum Airport (domestic and international), Dakshinapan Shopping Complex, Bagdogra Airport, Rajarhat, Darjeeling and New Delhi.

 

 

পার্ক স্ট্রিটে যাত্রা শুরু নতুন বিশ্ব বাংলা শোরুমের

পুজোর আগে পশ্চিমবঙ্গবাসীদের জন্য সুখবর। কলকাতার প্রাণকেন্দ্র পার্কস্ট্রিটে খুলে গেল বিশ্ব বাংলার নতুন শোরুম। এবার  এক ছাদের তলায় পেয়ে যাবেন বাংলার হস্তশিল্প থেকে শুরু করে তাঁত, বই এমনকি আকর্ষণীয় খাদ্যসামগ্রীও।

বাংলার ঐতিহ্যবাহী শাড়ি, সুতির বস্ত্র, হস্তশিল্প থেকে দার্জিলিংয়ের চা, বাংলা বই, গানের সিডি, পুরোনো দিনের সিনেমার ডিভিডি সবই পাওয়া যাবে এখানে।

আশা করা যায় পর্যটকদের অন্যতম গন্তব্য হয়ে উঠবে বিশ্ব বাংলার এই শোরুম। দমদম বিমানবন্দর (আন্তঃদেশীয় ও আন্তর্জাতিক), দক্ষিণাপন শপিং কমপ্লেক্স, বাগডোগরা বিমানবন্দর, রাজারহাট, দার্জিলিং এবং দিল্লির পর বিশ্ব বাংলার অষ্টম শোরুম এটি।

 

WB CM prays for tolerance at Kolkata Christmas Festival inauguration

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated the 5th edition of the Kolkata Christmas Festival at Allen Park in the Park Street in the presence of Archbishop Thomas D’Souza and Bishop Ashoke Biswas. Eminent members of the Christian community along with State tourism minister Bratya Basu were present on the occasion.

During her short address, WB CM laid stress on growing intolerance in India. “We ask Lord Jesus to give us tolerance. We may not like someone or something but we cannot disrespect them,” she said.

“We are one. India is a country of unity in diversity. Swami Vivekananda said unity is strength, divided we fall,” the Chief Minister added.

“May Jesus Christ be our guiding star in this era of intolerance,” said while concluding her speech.

Bigger festival this year

The Kolkata Christmas Festival will continue till January 2 this season instead of December 25. Not just that, the festival venue has also undergone an expansion of sorts with the Christmas and New Year theme lighting that decks up a section of Park Street now being extended to Chowringhee as well.

While the decorative lights were installed between Park Street-Chowringhee intersection and Allen Park, this year it will extend till Mullick Bazar to the east and continue along Chowringhee till St Paul’s Cathedral to the west.

Cultural fest at Park Street

During the festival, popular city bands will per form at Allen Park in the evenings. To share the `Spirit of Christmas’, special choir performances will be held till Christmas day . Kolkata Police and Army bands will also perform at the venue.

On December 20, Sunday , school students will participate in a Christmas parade on Park Street. Cars and bikes will not be allowed on the street during the parade scheduled between 10am and noon. Also, cars will not be allowed on the street on Christmas day to encourage pedestrians.

Food, a big draw at past editions of the festival, will continue to be the crowd-puller with 40 stalls set up along Park Street to serve delicacies from various communities, including cakes, decorations and other Christmas goodies.

Kolkata to brighten up for Durga Puja, buses to ply all night

West Bengal Tourism department and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) have joined hands to decorate the city with lights before Durga Puja.

All entry-exit points to the city would be decorated with light gates and important buildings and road crossings would be decorated with chain lights.

According to tourism department guidelines, the illumination would be done from October 18 to October 26 for 12 hours starting from 5.30 pm.

It’s a unique initiative on the part of the Government and KMC. Illuminating the city is something new and exciting.

Decorative light gates would be put up temporarily at Second Hooghly Bridge and Howrah Bridge. Important road crossings that would be illuminated with decorative chain lights include Shyambazar, Dalhousie, Dorina, Park Street, Elliot Park, Rabindra Sadan, National Library, Belvedre, Hazra, Rashbehari Avenue, Gariahat flyover and the riverfront.

All important and landmark buildings of Kolkata too would be illuminated with chain lights during the festive days. These buildings would include government and heritage buildings that usually attract tourists round the year.

The State Transport department has also taken decision to run Govt buses all through the night during the Puja days. Conductors and drivers will work in two shifts- day and night, to ease the worries of the pandal hoppers.

KMC Election 2015 Campaign: South Kolkata

Members of AITC Digital Desk tool a sneak peek at the campaigns for the Kolkata Municipal Election, 2015, by All Indian Trinamool Congress at Ward Nos 61, 63, 64, 70, 71, 72, 73, 81, 96 and 110 within Boroughs VI, VII, VIII, IX and X.

Campaign by Trinamool Congress in these areas has been based on the numerous developmental works including beautification of the areas.

 

Ward No 61 Candidate: Manzar Iqbal

 

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Banner campaign at Ward No 61

 

The Ward lies bounded by the Muzaffar Ahmed Street and Benia Pukur Lane in the north, Park Street in the south, Jannagar Road, Crematorium Street, Harekrishna Konar Road and Acharya Jagadish Bose Road in the east and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road in the west.

 

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Campaign near Royd Street, Ward No 61

 

The ward has seen various developmental works in the past five years. Streets and lanes are well lit up and the ward is clean. Slums in the area are equipped with proper water supply, drainage, sewerage and lights. Roads are cleaned at regular intervals.

 

Ward No 63 Candidate: Susmita Bhattacharya

 

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Banner campaign at Ward No 63

 

The Ward lies bounded by the Outram Road, Nellie Sengupta Sarani, Collin Lane and Park Street in the north, Acharya Jagadish Bose Rd. and Tolly’s Nullah in the south, the road connecting Acharya Jagadish Bose Road and Belvedere and Mirza Ghalib Street in the east and Kidderpore Road, Casurina Avenue, Chowringhee Road and Jawahjar Lal Nehru Road in the west.

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Citizens experiencing free Wi-Fi service on Park Street, Ward No 63

 

The heart of the business center in south-central Kolkata has a number of things to boast for. The Park Street offers free Wi-Fi. Camac Street and adjoining areas are clean and green. Compactor machines, public toilets are in places and parks are well maintained.

 

Ward No 64 Candidate: Iqbal Ahmed

 

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Banner campaign at Ward No 64

 

The Ward lies bounded by the Park Street, Suhrawardy Avenue and Gorachand Road in the north, Circus Avenue, Beckbagan Row, Shamsul Huda Road, Dr. Biresh Guha Street and Park Street in the south, Bright Street and Tiljala Road in the east and Acharya Jagadish Bose Road and Dr. Sundari Mohan Avenue in the west.

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Renovation works at Park Circus under Borough VII

 

The campaigning in this Ward in mainly based on providing slum development, water supply and various other issues. Measures taken by the present councilor have not been proved to be effective enough. The people of the ward will seek for change and elect the Trinamool candidate.

 

Ward No 70 Candidate: Satchidananda Banerjee

 

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Banner campaign at Ward No 70, different utilities in the same ward

 

The Ward lies bounded by the Acharya Jagadish Bose Road in the north, Chakraberia Road South and Paddapukur Road in the south, Sarat Bose Road, Paddapukur Road and Chakraberia Road South in the east and Ashutosh Mukherjee Road and Chowringhee Road in the west.

 

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Renovated Northern Park at Ward No 70

 

The last five years under Trinamool Board saw priority given to water supply. Water logging problems in this ward has been solved. Beatification drive was actively taken for the historic Northern Park. A community hall has been set up at Jogesh Mitra Road. A garbage compactor has been set up in the ward and battery-powered garbage collecting vans operate in this area. The lanes and by-lanes of the ward has been well lit-up. A nigh-shelter for the street dwellers is coming up near Northern Park.

 

Ward No 71 Candidate: Papiya Singh

 

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Banner campaign at Ward No 71

 

The Ward lies bounded by the Acharya Jagadish Bose Road in the north, Suhasini Ganguli Sarani, Gobinda Bose Lane, Bijoy Bose Road and Tolly’s Nullah in the south, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Debendralal Khan Road and Chowringhee Road in the east and Tolly’s Nullah and the Road connecting Belevedere Road and Acharya Jagadish Bose Road, Madan Pal Lane and Harish Mukherjee Road in the west.

 

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Party colours adorn roads at Ward No 71

 

The Trinamool Board has solved the water logging problem in Gokhale Road and other areas of the ward. D L Khan Road has now been lit up, repaired and water supply strengthened. A community centre has been set up in the ward and garbage compactor station set up. Most importantly,  the part of Adi Ganga, flowing by the ward has been cleaned and dredged.

 

Ward No 72 Candidate: Sandip Bakshi

 

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Graffiti campaign at Ward No 72

The Ward lies bounded by the Chakraberia Road South and Paddapukur Road in the north, Hazra Road in the south, Sarat Bose Road in the east and Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Chakrabere Road south and Paddapukur Road in the west.

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Campaign at Bhowanipore area

The ward has seen various developmental works in the past five years. The greenery of Bakul Bagan area is well maintained. Water supply is regular. Streets and lanes are well lit up and the ward is clean as well as green.

Ward No 73 Candidate: Ratan Malakar

 

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Banner campaign at Ward No 73

The Ward lies bounded by the Suhasini Ganguli Sarani, Gobinda Bose Lane and Bijoy Bose Road in the north, Hazra Road and Tolly’s Nullah in the south, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road, Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, Harish Mukherjee Road and Madan Pal Lane in the east and Tolly’s Nullah and Debendralal Khan Road in the west.

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Jai Hind Community Hall at Ward No 73

The ward has seen various developmental works in the past five years right from installation of High Masts at important junctures to setting up movable compactor machines. Renovation works in Harish Park and Jatin Das Park have made both the places find back their lost glory. The Jai Hind Community Hall is now open to serve the poor. The Ghats on Adi Ganga, like the Gopal Ghat and Balaram Bose Ghat have been renovated.

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Harish Park being cleaned even during the mid-day

Ward No 81 Candidate: Jui Biswas

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Road Show at Ward No 81

The Ward lies bounded by the Eastern Railway tracks in the north, Circular Road (Tollygunge), S.N. Roy Road and a line drawn on the southern edge of New Alipore of block-K in the south, Deshpran Sasmal Road in the east and Diamond Harbour Road in the west.

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Renovated Triangular Park in New Alipore, Ward No 81

This ward has seen tremendous development in the last five years under Trinamool Board. Drainage system in this ward is now completely underground. Foot paths are now paved with stone blocks and all pitch roads renovated. Compactor stations and new pay-and-use toilet has been set up in this ward. Parks for children has been renovated.

Ward No 96 Candidate: Malay (Debabrata) Majumder

 

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Graffiti campaign at Ward No 96

The Ward lies bounded by the Jadavpur Central Road in the north, Raipur Road in the south, Raja Subodh Chandra Mullick Road in the east and Jadavpur Central Road in the west.

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Padayatra in Ward No 96

The Ward consist parts of Bijoygarh, Baghajatin and the 8B bus stand area. Under the Trinamool Board, during the last five years, beatification has been a major initiative. Priority was given to supply of drinking water in the ward. The residents have experienced very quick repair of any roads that has been damaged.

Ward No 110 Candidate: Arup Chakraborty

 

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Banner campaign at Ward No 110

The Ward lies bounded by the Link Road connecting Raja Subodh Mullick Road and Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in the north, Tolly’s Nullah and Southern boundary off Briji Mauza in the south, Eastern Railway tracks in the east and Raja Subodh Mullick Road and Eastern Metropolitan Bypass in the west.

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Road show at Ward No 110

The campaigning in this Ward in mainly based on providing water supply. Measures taken by the present councilor have not been proved to be effective to supply drinking water in this ward. There are problems related to hawker, development of Briji area and piling up of construction materials on the roads, thus leading to accidents. The people of the ward will seek for change and elect the Trinamool candidate.

West Bengal Assembly set to be WiFi enabled

WB Assembly is set to be the first Assembly in the Country to be WiFi enabled.

Keeping with technology, the Assembly is also digitising its records. The members will immensely benefit once the Assembly will be fully equiped with these facilities and in full function.

During the launch of 4G enabled WiFi service in Park Street earlier this month, WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee had announced that Kolkata will be fully WiFi service enabled within the next two months.

Kolkata is the first metro city with a 4G enabled high-speed internet service. As per the Chief Minister, once the installation work is complete, Kolkata will turn into a networked society — smart, simple and secure.

WiFi Kolkata – One week after launch, positive response pours in

Kolkata – India’s first WiFi city is still creating buzz in the world of social media and random coffee shops around the city. Much to the delight of those who are using the services rolled out by the Bengal government in Park Street a week before today, the latest addition to the city has brought nothing but smiles on citizens’ faces.

 

 

Here’s what much enthusiastic social media ‘keedas’ have to say a week from the launch of WiFi Kolkata

Kolkata Bloggers Rejoice

  • Kolkata now comes up with a variety of visible changes to the city – beautiful river banks, newer set of trident street lights, AC bus stops to name a few and now the Wi-Fi – Anirban Saha
  • The youth today are more at ease today with wireless devices and welcome this move by the government – Anirban Saha
  • The 5th of February, 2015 was historic. Kolkata needed WiFi. And it was served what it needed – Nabhoneel Majumdar
  • This was a momentous occasion for all bloggers – going digital is the way forward – Arjyak Bhattachrya
  • With free Wi-Fi more people will get access to internet, thus making Kolkata a ‘smart city’. As your phone number gets registered, all illegal activities done using the Wi-Fi network can be tracked easily – Rimbik Das
  • 5 February will be remembered in the history of #KolkataMilestones as it becomes #WiFiKolkata – Abhishek Chamaria
  • The world today is digitally advanced..having a social identity online.. Industries and Entrepreneurs have this Wi-Fi zoning of the city like a gift to them…not mentioning the benefits for the common people – Saimantick Bhadra
  • Citizen journalism can evolve in due course of time. Will benefit during an emergency to establish communication with those who need help – Asmita Nandy
  • Kolkata having the reputation for being the city of firsts, from golf to metros and trams, it is now the first fully WiFi enabled city in India – Kanishk Xavier Gomes
  • Kolkata is the first metro city which aims to go fully WiFi by April 2015 – Poorna Banerjee
  • Home is where the WI-Fi connects automatically and much justifies Kolkata being our hometown – Sonket

 

Twitter responses

 

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