Locals’ plea: NKDA to install lights, cams at dark pockets
Times of India | 11 February 2025
12 Kolkata: The desolate and poorly lit area in New Town, where the brutalised and semi-naked body of the class 8 girl was found, will soon be thoroughly illuminated, covered by CCTV surveillance, have regular police patrols, and be transformed into a walking street, police said on Monday.
On Monday, a team from Bidhannagar City Police and officials of New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) conducted a survey of the 1.7-acre plot beside a canal next to NBCC Vibgyor Tower in New Town. They took notes on the number of street lights and surveillance cameras needed to make the place secure.
"We made a detailed study of the area and decided that the zone will be thoroughly illuminated and covered under CCTV cameras with immediate effect. Additionally, several other dark or poorly lit zones in New Town will be illuminated. This will help prevent crime and make the place safer for residents," said Manav Singla, deputy commissioner (New Town) of Bidhannagar City Police.
An earlier visit to the area by TOI revealed that the spot, owned by West Bengal Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation Ltd (WBIDFC), has a pathway beside it — connecting Loha Pool (iron bridge) with the NBCC Vibgyor campus main gate. The walkway stretches for approximately 700 m and gets heavy pedestrian traffic in the day time. However, after sunset, the area becomes completely dark due to non-functional lights.
TOI also spotted multiple liquor bottles, used contraceptives, and other garbage strewn at the spot. "The area has become a hub of open consumption of alcohol and cannabis. This route gets frequent incidents of minor criminal activities. Despite being a short cut, residents tend to steer clear after sunset. We wrote to KMDA to take immediate action to make the area safer," said Samaresh Das of New Town Forum and News.
Ankur Roy Chowdhury, another New Town resident, said there are other areas in Action Area III — especially near Sukhobrishti Co-mplex, and under-construction and new housings beyond — which are dark and unsafe. "Immediate steps have to be taken to make the smart city safer for us," he said.