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Push for floating mall on Hooghly

By Mrs Gupta, Section Mall Culture in Kolkata
Posted on Fri Dec 29, 2006 at 03:12:49 AM EST

The floating shopping mall on the Hooghly is a certainty now, with its promoter, the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC), shortlisting firms to execute the project.

WBSTC managing director A Mondol said some firms have been shortlisted from those that responded to the corporation's invitation for expressions of interest. "The process is on to finally select a company," Mondol said.

BIZ BOOST
*Firms are being shortlisted for the proposed floating mall on river Hooghly
*Companies are being selected from those that responded to WBSTC's invitation for expression of interest
*The preliminary design of the mall has been prepared and it will be handed over to the firm finally selected
*This firm will then prepare the final design and execute the project

Mondol added a preliminary design of the mall has been prepared. "We would hand over the design to the selected firm which would prepare its final design and execute it. The project cost would also be estimated by the selected firm," he said.

The authorities are also conducting spot surveys to decide points on the river where the mall could come up. The emphasis will be on points with the best potential to attract visitors. The mall will be shifted between points on the river according to need.

Some months ago, transport minister Subhas Chakraborty announced plans of a floating shopping mall in city. WBSTC was entrusted with the job and expressions of interest were sought.

Some private firms responded. It will be like any other shopping mall with retail stores, restaurants, entertainment centres and other facilities.

Along with the mall, WBSTC is working on a Rs 3 crore plan to shore up the Hooghly ferry network with more jetties and introduction of launches on new routes. The Kolkata Port trust has cleared the plans.

"We have already set up jetties at Sheoraphuli, Manirampur, Budge Budge and are constructing one at Dakshineswar," Mondol said. More jetties will be set up according to requirements.

The authorities are also working on plans to increase ferry service on river Hooghly. "We are discussing the plans. Nothing has been finalised yet," Mondol said.

As of now, 13 ferries are plying on the Babughat-Dakshineshwar and Babughat-Howrah routes. Officials said once the floating mall comes up, more launches would be needed to ferry visitors to it.

WBSTC says a Budge Budge-Howrah ferry service on the river Hooghly is also in the pipeline.

"This will attract a significant number of commuters who travel to Kolkata from Budge Budge and its neighbourhood by train or road," an official said.

Source- The Times Of India, Dated, December-29,2006

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