Kolkata West International City

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Kolkata West International City
v  d  e
West Bengal • India
District(s) Howrah
Coordinates 22.59° N 88.3° E
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)

Coordinates: 22.59° N 88.3° E

Kolkata West International City is a satellite township development across 390.2 acres with 6,100 bungalows, four highrise residential towers, three IT parks, a 13-acre club, a 200-bed hospital, two schools and shopping and entertainment zones, in Howrah. Located on Howrah-Amta Road, just off NH 6, it is around 9 km from Benoy Badal Dinesh Bag, in the heart of Kolkata (earlier called Calcutta) and 12 km from Vidyasagar Setu linking Kolkata with Howrah. It is a tripartite venture involving the Salim and Ciputra groups from Indonesia and the Universal Success Group of Jakarta-based Non Resident Indian Prasoon Mukherjee. [1]

Contents

[edit] The Project

The project is considered to be one of the largest foreign direct investments in township projects in India.[2] The foundation plaque was unveiled by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Chief Minister of West Bengal, on 15 February 2006. Speaking on the occasion, he felt that the Rs 2,500-crore township would provide the “right impetus” to growth on the western bank of the Hooghly. The project is expected to be home to nearly 36,000 people.[1]

The project is being executed in collaboration with KMDA. The promoters claim that space and nature will blend with structural innovation and modern design in this project. Comprising of 2-4 bedroom G+1 storey villa, the project is spread over acres of pristine greenery and has over 5000 units within gated communities which will enjoy facilities like parks, playgrounds, commercial complexes etc. [3] The entire project is expected to be completed and delivered by 2010. [1]

The entrance to the Kolkata West International City built in the style of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.
The entrance to the Kolkata West International City built in the style of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.


[edit] Promoters

Kolkata West International City Pvt Ltd, the joint venture company building the township, commands a combined turnover of $20 billion-plus. Salim and Universal Success are investors in the project, Ciputra the developer and Singapore-based Surbana the project manager. [1]Ciputra Group was founded in the early eighties. PT Ciputra Development is a public listed company in Singapore. The group is responsible for most of the imposing land marks spread across Indonesia and Singapore which includes projects like Marina Square, Senen Shopping Centre, Ciputra Mall & Hotel, World Trade Centre (Jakarta), BNI 46 Tower, Bintaro Jaya the Garden City, Ciputra Hanoi International City and Citraraya Surabaya. The Salim Group is one of Asia's leading business groups with world class assets such as PT. Indofood Sukses Makmur, the world's largest instant-noodle producer, Bogasari Flour Mills, the world's largest flour-milling operation and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the dominant integrated telecom operator in the Philippines. Salim Group has been involved in property development and leisure industry for around 30 years. The businesses include hotel and resort development, golf courses, real estates, commercial buildings, shopping centers and industrial estates.[3]

Model houses on display in the project area
Model houses on display in the project area

[edit] Problems

The project is not without problems. The Howrah elite is protesting against the name of the project and are demanding that the word ‘Kolkata’ be dropped from the name.[4] Eyebrows have been raised over Howrah Municipal Corporation agreeing to supply 2 million gallons of water per day, as it is unable to supply water to many areas.[5]

[edit] External link

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Saha, Subhro. West wake-up. A sprawling satellite township that promises a slew of facilities and can house 36,000 people may change the face of Howrah. The Telegraph, 14 April 2006. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
  2. ^ Chattopadhya, Suhrid Sankar. Focus: West Bengal. Changing Phase. Frontline, Vol 24, Issue 2, Jan 27-Feb 09 2007. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Kolkata West International. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
  4. ^ Mukherjee, Mita. Howrah Cry to alter name. The Telegraph, 10 January 2007. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.
  5. ^ Jain, Rupam. Civic body’s decision to sell water to Salim project earns flak. The Statesman, 26 March 2007. Retrieved on March 26, 2007.

[edit] See also

West Bengal development hubs
AsansolBurnpur / IISCOBaruipurDankuniDurgapur / Durgapur Steel PlantHaldiaKolkata West International CityMejiaNandigramRajarhatSalboniSingurUluberia