Firhad Hakim opens Seven Wonders of the World

Kolkata: State Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim inaugurated the replicas of the Seven Wonders of the World at Eco Park on Saturday. The minister then unveiled the third hall at Nazrul Tirtha where previews and documentaries related to 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) will be screened.

The representations of the Seven Wonders in a recreational park is the first-of-its-kind in the country. It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) authorities to set up replicas of the Seven Wonders which will be appreciated by those who love to travel.

The replicas have come up on a three acre land. The replica of Taj Mahal has a height of 4.25 m and an area of 22.5x22.5 sqm based on the original structure of Taj Mahal in Agra. There is also a streamlet to replicate river Yamuna with two wooden bridges.

The second is a replica of Christ — the Redeemer whose original statue is situated in Rio De Janeiro. The height of the replica is around is 17.7m installed on the top of a pedestal measuring a height of 2.7m. The third is the replica of the Colosseum. The replica is constructed over 430 sqm area and has a height of 7.3 m. The fourth is the Great Wall of China which is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, rammed earth of 21,196 km length. The same has been replicated as a structure which is having 120 m length, 2.5 m average width and 7.4 m average height (maximum). The fifth one is the Easter Island statues. Thirty two statues have been replicated on an area of 700 sqm. The original statues are located at south-eastern most point of the Polynesian Triangle.

The sixth one is the Petra Jordan. The original structure is located in Jordan's south-western desert. The replica is constructed on 640 sqm area. The replica has three mountains having height of 13m. The seventh is the Pyramid. Four Pyramids each with 2m height has been constructed as a replica of the original pyramid.

The facia of all the structures are made of fibre reinforced polymer which have been fixed on RCC and steel frames. Senior HIDCO officials said the replicas look exactly the miniature of the original structures.

Chairman of HIDCO Debashis Sen unveiled a photographic exhibition at New Town Business Club in the late afternoon.