As part of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s plans to turn Kolkata into London, the beautification of the riverside will begin shortly. The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is all set to start a survey to prepare the detailed project report (DPR).
“The KMDA will conduct the study and prepare the DPR in 45 days. In the first phase, the beautification would be done on both sides of river Hooghly. On the Kolkata side, the stretch between the second Hooghly bridge and the Nimtolla Ghat will be beautified, while on the Howrah side the work will start from the railway museum area,” state urban development and municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim said. According to plans, a Kolkata Eye on the lines of London Eye will be erected on the riverside. An Expression of Interest (EoI) has already been floated by the state government for the project. Mr Hakim claimed that the response to the EoI was very good. “Even Aqua World of London has also shown their interest to construct Kolkata Eye,” he informed.
A ropeway between Millennium Park and Howrah Station over river Hooghly would also be constructed.