CM renames Drainage Canal Road after footballer Sailen Manna

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday officially christened Howrah’s Drainage Canal Road after the name of legendary footballer Sailen Manna, bestowing tribute to him.

Banerjee inaugurated a plaque on the road with ‘Sailen Manna Sarani’ inscribed on it and gave instructions for beautifying the stretch after she reached Howrah from her three-day Digha tour on Thursday. Banerjee paid a visit to stalls of Self-Help-Groups and a stall of Sufal Bangla. She announced that the road will be decked up. On the side of the road where there is vacant space, a tram library and a restaurant will be set up. There will also be a playing space for the children.

She said that a comprehensive plan for beautification of the road is being done and will be implemented soon. The road stretches approximately 2.5 km.

The Chief Minister was accompanied Arup Roy, minister in-charge of Food Processing and Horticulture Industries (FPI&H) department, Manoj Tiwari, minister of state for Sports and Youth Affairs, District Magistrate Howrah P Deepap Priya, Commissioner Howrah Police Commissionerate Praveen Tripathy

among others. Banerjee before leaving for Digha had directed the Howrah district magistrate for renaming the road after Manna. In 2015, the Howrah Municipal Corporation had brought out a notification stating that the Drainage Canal Road will be named after five well known persons of the area namely Bholanath Chakraborty, Kanailal Bhattacharjee, Asit Bandyopadhyay, Naren Dasgupta and Gyan Sen while the East West road to be named after Sailen Manna. Banerjee wanted Drainage Canal Road to be named Sailen Manna Sarani. Meanwhile, principal of Sarada Ramkrishna Mission (Digha) met Banerjee earlier in the day at Digha helipad while she was leaving for Kolkata and said that the upcoming Jagannath Temple at Digha will not only boost tourism but also create a spiritual atmosphere in the popular sea beach destination.

She added that Belur Ramkrishna Math and Mission wants to set up an educational institution in Digha and has urged Banerjee to provide land. Banerjee asked district magistrate of East Midnapore Purnendu Maji to take necessary action. The Mission wants 10 to 15 acre land for the project.