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VIP Township With An Emphasis On Improved Streetlights & Better Bus Shelters

By parul118, Section Development
Posted on Tue Oct 16, 2007 at 01:41:44 AM EST

Salt Lake is set to acquire a new look with its municipality appointing a top advertising agency, to embark on a beautification drive in the VIP township with an emphasis on improved streetlights and better bus shelters.

Bidhannagar Municipality drew inspiration from Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NITA), which took over the civic governance of Sector V from the civic body and then appointed Enkon-Selvel to spruce up the IT hub. Karukrit has been given the job of beautifying the township.

The five year agreement between Bidhannagar Municipality and Karukrit was signed last week. The advertising agency will set up 900 illuminated kiosks to light up Salt lake's streets and build 125 bus shelters across the township. Karukrit will pay Rs 1.25 crore annually to the civic body and in return will install advertising boards on these kiosks and bus shelters to earn revenue. It will share Rs 6.25 crore of its revenue earnings from advertising with the municipality over the five year tenure of the contract, said the municipality's finance officer Somnath Mukherjee.

The municipality may increase the tenure of the contract if it finds its work satisfactory, he added. Officials say that the municipality was looking for a private firm for some time to improve and develop the bus passenger shelters (most are in a rundown condition) and streetlights in the township.

With more vehicles entering the township to reach Sector V and more and more offices coming up in Salt Lake, the civic body felt the need to have modern passenger shelters to keep up with the times. Illuminated kiosks to be set up across the township would smoothen night driving in Salt Lake.

Municipality officials welcome the revenue earning agreement, specially at a time when it is feeling the pinch of not being able to collect property tax under a Supreme Court order. Besides, officials say, the move will help improve civic infrastructure.

The municipality is currently trying to earn as much revenue as it can from billboard agencies and parking fees to make up the Rs 12 crore annual loss in property tax. The civic body hopes that the government will come up with a new tax structure for the township after the pujas.

Source:The Times Of India,15-10-07

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