RG Kar protest shadow over inauguration of 2 key projects
Times of India | 22 September 2024
Kolkata: The protest against the RG Kar crime and the movement for justice have cast a shadow on some of the vital civic projects in the city.
According to a KMC official, the civic brass had planned to open three food street hubs in the middle of Aug. Construction of the hubs was completed by the end of July and was awaiting inauguration by chief minister Mamata Banerjee and mayor Firhad Hakim.According to a civic official, KMC constructed the food hubs in an endeavour to enable the citizens savour the taste of the famous Kolkata street food in a smart and hygienic manner. The shabby food stalls that now line the streets have made way for smart food zones at three streets — Russell Street in central Kolkata, Patuli in south-east Kolkata and Tala Jheel Park in north Kolkata.
“In July, we were instructed to prepare for the inauguration of the food hubs. We were also told that CM Mamata Banerjee had shown her eagerness to inaugurate these hubs either physically or virtually. But everything changed drastically when the junior doctors and civil society took to the roads. Now, we are awaiting a nod from the civic brass for the inauguration,” said a KMC official. According to him, the hub idea is unique since it will not only promote famous street food but to rehabilitate hawkers in Russell Street from the pavements.
Similarly, the much-touted drainage pumping station constructed in Mukundapur that was supposed to take care of the waterlogging woes of large parts of Mukundapur, Nayabad and other neighbourhoods that are located off EM Bypass, including the major hospital premises, was waiting to be inaugurated in Aug. This drainage pumping station was constructed under the KEIIP project funded by the Asian Development Bank.
According to a KMC sewerage and drainage department official, going by the capacity of the pumping station, it has the capacity to flush out storm water from several Bypass areas. “We were banking on this drainage pumping station largely to give patients who throng three major hospitals located off EM Bypass relief from waterlogging. However, the situation went out of control after the tragic death of the medical student at RG Kar hospital. Now we need to get a fresh nod for the inauguration of the pumping station,” said the civic official.