Kolkata

The City

The sprawling metropolis of Kolkata flanks the river
Hooghly just before it meets the sea, and carries a legacy its
14 million residents are justifiably proud of. The capital city
of the Indian State of West Bengal and Eastern India’s first city
has retained its status as the commercial and financial hub in
the region, in spite of a apathetic approach to development in
the past.

Highlighted as India’s fastest growing cities today, the turnaround
from the "dying" city tag has been remarkable. Well-known
for its academic and cultural pursuits, the city is now cashing
on its highly literate and well-informed populace for a comeback
with a vengeance.

The city’s links within and outside the region have long been
established through rail, road and air. This has fostered a tolerant,
multi-cultural migrant population comprising communities from
not just India, but even overseas, with Armenians, Chinese, Jews,
Tibetans co-existing peacefully with Parsis, Marwaris, Biharis,
Sikhs and of course, Bengalis.

Giving Kolkata a fresh lease of life is the information technology
sector in the city. IT has spawned ‘commercialism’ amongst the
city residents, and encouraged the retail and real estate market
to a level where investors are eager to invest in Kolkata.

Real estate Agents in Kolkata have responded
to the growing demand with quality projects which have elevated
the lifestyle of the people of Kolkata, in retail, commercial
or residential sector.

Infrastructure and Facilities

The Government of West Bengal has set aside Rs. 3,430 for developing
social infrastructure alone. Kolkata pioneered the metro rail
in India, which connects the north-south ends of the city from
DumDum to Tollygunge in 45 minutes. The Central Business District
from Esplanade and BBD Bagh, or Dalhousie, as it is still popularly
known, is barely 25 minutes from these suburbs.

Indonesia’s Salim Group stirred the property market in 2006 with
its collaboration with Unitech and Universal Success Group for
a multi-product SEZ, a mega-chemical industrial estate, and an
industrial estate for small and medium enterprises. It has also
been roped in for investments in an expressway, bridges, townships,
and commercial blocks for land losers, training institutes, health
city and a knowledge city, set to be completed in 15 years.

Real estate giant Unitech has plans also for Rs. 4000 crore to
be spent on infrastructure projects – roads, bridges, of which
Rs.1, 600 crore is dedicated to the third Hooghly bridge, connecting
Raichur and Haldia.

Also on the anvil are 2 roads-cum-flyovers for East Kolkata linking
Basanti Road to the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass and the airport.
Slated for completion by March 2008 at a cost of 55 crore, the
4 km. link to the EM Bypass, to be laid by the Kolkata Municipal
Corporation will include a flyover on the route.

Basanti Road’s connectivity to the airport will be further improved
with the 6 km. link to be built by Housing Infrastructure Development
Corporation, avoiding the EM Bypass and VIP Road.

Enjoying a high literacy rate of 81%, the city is known for its
excellent academic standards and institutions of repute. Missionary
and private schools like Loreto, St. Xavier’s, Don Bosco, St.
James, St. Joseph’s and the Birla group of schools impart quality
education comparable with some of the best schools in India.

Graduate and post graduate courses in regular, vocational and
professional streams are offered by a multitude of colleges. Calcutta
University, Indian Institute of Management, Directorate of Marine
Engineering Technology, Indian Statistical Institute, Bose Institute,
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and Jadavpur University has
students vying for seats from across the country and abroad.

State-of-the art medical facilities, both public and privately
run, are available to all sections of society. Being the ideal
destination for shopper’s, Kolkata’s delectable cuisine, and the
very happening cultural scene, makes the city an ideal choice
for a second home in India.

Photo: Kolkata skyline at night by DeepanjanGhosh, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.