‘Multilevel parking, heritage revamp to ease congestion’
Times of India | 19 December 2024
123 Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Kolkata port authorities have come closer to identifying land for the construction of a multilevel car parking plaza at a location near Howrah station. The move will help decongest Strand Road, Brabourne Road, and other major thoroughfares in the BBD Bagh area.
Mayor Firhad Hakim, who on Wednesday held a meeting with Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port chairman Rathendra Raman at the KMC headquarters, later said a consensus had been reached on the necessity to construct a multilevel car parking plaza on a PPP model. A KMC official told TOI that Fairlie Place could be one of the locations for the proposed car parking plaza.
Hakim also disclosed that the port authorities had agreed to take up the shore protection work at some of the major ghats along the Hooghly like Nimtolla, Ahiritolla, and Bagbazar where soil erosion has caused severe damage. This apart, the port authorities will need to take stock of other ghats, including Doi Ghat (Kidderpore), Prinsep Ghat, and Babughat.
Hakim said the civic body will extend a helping hand in the renovation of the iconic Howrah bridge. "The port authorities roped in a foreign consultancy firm for a health audit of the heritage bridge. The firm suggested going for a renovation of the bridge that will give it a fresh lease of life. We have given our word that the KMC will extend all possible help in carrying out the renovation work," said Hakim.
The KMC has expressed its interest in the restoration and modernization of Mullickghat wholesale flower market along with the state horticulture department and has accordingly sought cooperation from the port authorities as the land falls under the latter's jurisdiction. "The issue of the modernization of Mullickghat flower market has been pending for a long time, and we tried to resolve the stalemate with the port officials. We hope we will be able to take up the modernization work without further delay," said the mayor.
The KMC has sought permission from the port to enable the civic body to give access to visitors at an extended part of the Millennium Park that has been kept out of bounds for people who visit the park along the Hooghly.
The KMC has urged the port officials to identify land so that the KMC and the state could shift encroachers occupying the port land. The issue was raised by the port, to which Hakim assured that once land was identified, these settlers would be shifted to Banglar Bari, a project undertaken by the state for the homeless.
Construction of an underground tunnel from Sankrail (Howrah) to Kidderporesolely for goods trucks and containers, was also discussed. According to Hakim, the idea behind the construction of such a tunnel was to decongest Howrah bridge and Vidyasagar Setu. Hakim said the issue of settlement of tax dues was also discussed at the meeting.
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