21.4.12

Kolkata Riverfront




Piles of garbage have given way to ornamented glasshour shaped pillars, broken boundary walls replaced by colourful terracotta designer tiles, dark stretches lit up by trident lights…the 2-km stretch of the Hooghly riverfront has been metamorphosed to give you a London-like feel, something that chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her government had promised after coming to power in last May. The stretch from Prinsep Ghat to Baje Kadamtala Ghat has turned into a swanky riverside promenade. To add to it, the government has taken good care to put security in place to avoid any untoward incident. 
According to mayor Sovon Chatterjee, work is on in full swing and the project is likely to be completed within a 
month. Interestingly, about half a kilometre of this stretch — between the Man of War Jetty and Prinsep Ghat — is reclaimed land that was lost to unkempt growth and rubble that used to hide it from public view. Earlier, only less than 1 km — from the Man of War jetty till the Sea Farers’ Institute — of the riverfront was accessible. Thereafter, you could reach the restored Prinsep Ghat monument by taking the Strand Road and completely avoiding the riverfront. But things have changed for the better. Now you will be able to walk by the water all along, save for the 50-metre odd stretch that belongs to Army. Work is on in the reclaimed stretch, the rest of the promenade is complete, save for the manicured lawns and ornamental plants that will have to be planted. Well-designed planters have been constructed and shady yet ornamental plants like the Kerala Dwarf have been planted. Also, retro-looking wrought iron benches have been installed throughout the promenade for people to sit and relax. These benches are extremely spacious and Victorian in design, complete with the famous lion head on the hand rests. 
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is restoring the Gwalior Monument, a heritage structure, and the viewing gallery has also been brought back into use. In some parts like the Meenmangal Ghat, where the promenade juts out into the water, the feel of a spacious terrace has been created, with step-like sitting arrangements. Though security is tight in the now-swanky place, the erstwhile tea, bhelpuri and puchka sellers have not been evicted. 

 The 2-km riverfront is just a part of the KMC’s mammoth project. The civic body has plans to beautify the entire stretch up to Baranagar.

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