Kalighat makeover report on anvil
Kolkata: Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim on Wednesday said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared soon to take up the beatification drive in and around Kalighat temple.
During his speech at the Assembly, Hakim said that a beautification drive would be undertaken at Kalighat temple.
The detailed project report is yet to be chalked out in this regard. The area around the temple would be revamped to give it a complete new look. A skywalk will be constructed at Kalighat temple on the lines of Dakshineswar.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has been doing a survey on the underground utilities in Kalighat area before taking up the construction of the skywalk that will resemble the one at Dakshineswar.
During a question answer-session in the Assembly, Trinamool Congress MLA Jyotirmoy Kar wanted to know from the minister what steps have been taken for the beautification of various temples and the adjoining areas.
It may be mentioned here that Hakim in May this year held meeting with the representatives of Kalighat temple committee to expedite the beautification drive. The civil engineering department of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation constructed rows of stalls outside the temple complex where the hawkers would be shifted from inside the temple complex.
The civic body will start the beautification work after the hawkers are shifted. They will return to their original places after the completion of beatification drive. He had asked the temple committee to ensure shifting of the stalls by end of June so that the beautification work could be started from early July. He also held a meeting with hawker union leaders of Kalighat area for a smooth construction of skywalk in the area that will connect Kalighat temple.
The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier announced that a skywalk would be set up at Kalighat to ease the congestion like the Dakshineswar temple. She also directed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to take steps in this regard.
The Chief Minister had also announced that there would be no changes in the basic structure of Kalighat. She made it clear that no one will be evicted from the place. Following the Chief Minister's instruction, the government had taken several steps to ensure that devotees do not face any trouble while visiting Kalighat Temple.
Speaking on the occasion, Hakim said that Rs 63 crore was spent for constructing the skywalk at Dakshineswar along with some more beatification works. Around Rs 5.92 crore was spent for the beatification of Tarakeswar, Rs 4.77 crore was spent for the development of Tarakeswar complex and Rs 4.39 crore was spent for city planning.
