A watch tower taller than Delhi’s Qutub Minar is coming up in Howrah, West Bengal. Standing at 400 feet (120 metres), the tower is expected to open to the public next year.

The structure will also feature a revolving restaurant and a banquet hall that can accommodate up to 200 people at a time.

According to engineer Ram Ratan Chowdhury, director of Panchadeep Construction, “The banquet hall can hold small functions like birthdays, ring ceremonies and rice-eating ceremonies for a maximum of 200 persons.” Construction began around seven years ago but was stalled for about two years during the Covid pandemic, he added.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Chowdhury said, “I have roamed all around the world and saw that practically in all countries such towers are there. I felt that in India also there should be such a tall tower. If such a tower was built here in Calcutta, it would become a highlight for the country. I have given an additional feature, which is a revolving restaurant — in most towers there is no revolving restaurant.”

The 400-foot watch tower will have two high-speed elevators to carry 24 people at a time. At the top, an open viewing deck will be equipped with telescopes to offer panoramic views — from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and the city’s two iconic bridges to the river Ganga. “One can see everything in a 20 km radius — from bridges to planes taking off. They will get a panoramic view of the city,” Chowdhury said.

Safety measures have been put in place, with tall railings, fire safety clearance, and structural safety permits. At a time, 150-200 persons will be allowed on the top deck, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes. Beyond that, visitors will be charged extra.

“There will be different coloured wristbands. One group will have yellow bands with time written on them, then the next group will have red bands. This way, we’ll know who is staying for how long. If anyone stays beyond half an hour, they’ll be charged extra. That’s how the entire thing will be controlled,” said Chowdhury.

The construction cost of the tower is around Rs 75 crore. It stands inside Belilious Park, which is being developed with an amusement park, go-karting, water sports, and a toy train over an area of 20 acres, leased from the state government.

“The 42 residential complex is 600 feet high, but that is only for residents — this tower is for the public. It will be an attraction for all. When people go up 400 feet, it will raise the hair on one’s body,” said Chowdhury.

The ticket price is expected to be Rs 100 on weekdays and Rs 150 on weekends. “We have to keep prices keeping in mind the purchasing capacity of the people here,” he said.

According to Chowdhury, this will be India’s tallest tower accessible to the public, as physical entries are currently barred at monuments like Shahid Minar and Qutub Minar. “This monument is a gift or tribute from my side to this nation. It is a long-term thing for the next 100 years,” he said.

The tower is more than twice as tall as the Biswa Bangla Gate in New Town, which stands at 55 metres (around 180 feet). Its foundation is 35 metres deep — over 10 storeys — with 169 pilings to make it earthquake-resistant. The diameter at the plinth level is 40 metres, narrowing to 22 metres at the top deck and 12 metres at the bottom shaft. Around 1,400 tonnes of steel have been used in its construction.

Dr Sujoy Chakraborty, Board of Administrators, Howrah Municipal Corporation, said, “We had gone for an inspection. There is still work going on. Once complete, when it opens for the public, it will be an added feather of pride for the city and the state.”