Delegation to visit Yokohama after Assembly elections

A delegation of the State government will go to Yokohama soon after the Assembly elections are over to select agencies that will facilitate in carrying out various projects for infrastructural development of Howrah city.

Representatives from Japan’s Yokohama Municipality, the largest in the country, visited West Bengal twice in the past few months. A week ago, a two-member team from the municipality held another meeting with senior officials of the State government and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC). Following discussion on various issues related to the projected development projects they invited the State government’s delegation to visit Yokohama. They had requested the officials here to visit their city in April. But it is not quite possible to arrange the visit as per their request due to the Assembly elections.

The officials of the State government and HMC informed them the reason behind their inability to visit Yokohama in April and assured that steps would be taken to arrange the same after May.

A senior HMC official said: “Appreciating their support we have asked them to send us a formal invitation. There is no question of delaying the process. If everything goes as planned a team comprising top State government officials and HMC including the commissioner Nilanjan Chattopadhyay will go to Yokohama.”

The main task after visiting Yokohama would be to select competent agencies those can facilitate the infrastructural development of the Howrah city and at the same time bring investment as the representatives had earlier shown interest in developing a medium and small scale industries hub besides assessing the scope of funding for infrastructure development. HMC had identified a plot of 250 acre at Pinjrapole on Gosala Road at Bally for the industry hub. 

The representatives had also shown interest in developing a fish market with updated technologies at Tikiapara in Howrah, a water treatment plant and flyovers in Howrah.

The officials have till date identified four stretches where flyovers may come up to ease out the traffic movement in Howrah city. Though not yet finalised, two flyovers may come up the stretch of GT Road that passes through the Howrah city and one could be from Belilious Road to Howrah Station.  

Stating the similarities between Yokohama and Howrah, an official said that they came to know after speaking to the representatives from Japan that the condition of Yokohama city 30 years ago was quite similar to that of on Monday’s Howrah. Thus it is expected that the City-to-City partnership with Yokohama will be of great help to give a new look to Howrah.