Kolkata: New Town was awarded the Gold Certification for its Master Plan and Design, under the Green Cities Rating of CII's Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
"This indeed is a major leap in the government's mission to build a greener and a healthier state," said Debashis Sen, Chairman & Managing Director of West Bengal Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO). Sen was handed out a plaque and certificates at an award ceremony held at the HIDCO premises on Wednesday.
"New Town is India's first green-rated satellite city and is a unique blend of ancient architectural practices and modern technological innovations," Sen said adding that the satellite township has already become a much sought-after city for many national and international companies keen to enhance the quality of life of its employees and explore new growth opportunities.
Sushil Mohta, Co-Chair, IGBC Kolkata Chapter & Chair, Core Group on Real Estate Infrastructure Subcommittee, CII Eastern Region, said: "New Town will be home to some of the finest, innovative and futuristic green building concepts and technologies, worth emulating by other cities across the globe."
It may be mentioned that speakers in the progarmme listed sustainable and consumer-centric features of New Town like app-based cycles for entire city, e-buses, solar PV on canals, advance machinery for road cleaning & solid waste management, public green & open spaces etc.
"The additional FAR incentive offered by the state has played a catalytic role in the spread of the green building movement in the state," a senior IGBC official said.