CM holds meet to ensure smooth sailing for Int'l Kolkata Book Fair 2018

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a high-level meeting at Nabanna to ensure proper arrangements to organise the 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair in its new venue at Central Park in Salt Lake.

Concerned ministers and officials were present in the meeting held at Nabanna to discuss the issues related to the preparation of the book fair.

Sources said that the Chief Minister has stressed upon the need to make necessary arrangement so that people do not face any difficulties in reaching the new venue.

Steps would be taken to ensure that sufficient number of buses ply up to Central Park from different parts of the city and its adjoining areas. It has been mentioned in the meeting that there is a place where around 150 buses can be parked at a time.

Senior officers of all the concerned departments and some senior MLAs have been directed to supervise the entire situation when the preparation for the book fair is going on.

Steps will also be taken to ensure proper firefighting arrangement and at the same time, directions have been given to increase the number of entry and exit points to ensure better crowd management.

Moreover, the police have been directed to look into all the related aspects so that no untoward incident takes place during the book fair. Senior officers of the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate will also be visiting the premises to plan the security arrangement.

The book fair will start from January 31 and will continue till February 11. The venue has been changed as the Milan Mela complex is undergoing renovation.

The inauguration of the book fair will take place on January 30 and from the next day it will be opened to visitors. The focal theme of the book fair this year is France.