Mamata takes wraps off 'Soujanya'
Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday inaugurated 'Soujanya', a state-of-the-art venue at Hastings House Complex in Alipore, for holding industry and diplomatic meetings. The building is modelled after Hyderabad House in Delhi.
"Hyderabad House in Delhi is used only for holding meetings and signing MoUs. 'Soujanya' has nine suites that will serve as a guest house for country heads and similar high ranked officials, along with captains of the industry. We will use this venue for specific purposes. Earlier, we did not have any specific venue for holding diplomatic meetings. From now, such meetings will be held here," Banerjee said.
She further said that her government is considering construction of a skywalk beside Kalighat Temple, similar to the one which has recently been constructed by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) in Dakshineswar, which will be inaugurated on November 5.
"We have received a proposal for constructing a skywalk near Kalighat Temple. I have asked chief secretary Malay De to go through the proposal and if feasible, we will construct the skywalk. It will be of immense help to the people," she said.
Talking of the government's huge investment in infrastructure, the Chief Minister said that several new flyovers are coming up in Kolkata.
"The Mahestala-Jinjirabazar flyover is almost ready and will be inaugurated soon. We will come up with a number of flyovers to connect Tollygunge, Dhakuria, Cossipore, Jadavpur and Shyambazar. Around Rs 18,000 crore has been allotted for the new infrastructure, including bridges and roads. This apart, another Rs 25,000 crore has been included in the budget for additional infrastructure. I am sure no other state in the country has spent such a huge amount on infrastructure till now," Banerjee maintained.
'Soujanya', which has been named by Banerjee, has a host of facilities including a community hall, conference room, special rooms for accommodating the Prime Minister or important world leaders and personalities, rest rooms and other required infrastructure.
An auditorium named 'Uttirnyo' has already been set up in Alipore, while Milan Mela exhibition ground is being developed further, the Chief Minister said.
Banerjee will hold the Bijoya meet with industrialists and diplomats at Eco Tourism Park on November 14.
From the venue, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of an arsenic-free potable drinking water project for the people of Haroa, Rajarhat and Bhangar II Block in North 24-Parganas.
The project, conceived by the department of Public Health and Engineering (PHE), will involve Rs 1,000 crore. PHE minister Moloy Ghatak was also present at the programme.
