Kolkata West International City

Kolkata West International City is a satellite township development across convert|390.2|acre|km2 with 6,100 bungalows, four highrise residential towers, three IT parks, a 13 acre club, a 200-bed hospital, two schools and shopping and entertainment zones, in Howrah. Located on Howrah-Amta Road, just off NH 6, it is around convert|9|km|mi|abbr=on|0 from Benoy Badal Dinesh Bag, in the heart of Kolkata (earlier called Calcutta) and convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on|0 from Vidyasagar Setu linking Kolkata with Howrah. It is a tripartite venture involving the Salim and Ciputra groups from Indonesia and the Universal Success Group of Jakarta-based Non Resident Indian Prasoon Mukherjee.cite web
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060414/asp/propertt/story_6096803.asp
title = West wake-up| accessdate = 2007-03-26| last = Saha| first = Subhro
work = A sprawling satellite township that promises a slew of facilities and can house 36,000 people may change the face of Howrah | publisher =The Telegraph|date=14 April 2006]

The Project

The project is considered to be one of the largest foreign direct investments in township projects in India.cite web
url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2402/stories/20070209003411800.htm| title = Focus: West Bengal| accessdate = 2007-03-26| last = Chattopadhya| first = Suhrid Sankar| work = Changing Phase
publisher =Frontline, Vol 24, Issue 2, Jan 27–Feb 09 2007] The foundation plaque was unveiled by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Chief Minister of West Bengal, on 15 February 2006. Speaking on the occasion, he felt that the Rs 2,500-crore (25 billion) township would provide the “right impetus” to growth on the western bank of the river Hooghly. The project is expected to be home to nearly 36,000 people.

The project is being executed in collaboration with Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. The promoters claim that space and nature will blend with structural innovation and modern design in this project. Comprising of 2-4 bedroom G+1 storey villa, the project is spread over acres of pristine greenery and has over 5000 units within gated communities which will enjoy facilities like parks, playgrounds, commercial complexes etc. The entire project is expected to be completed and delivered by 2010.

Promoters

Kolkata West International City Pvt Ltd, the joint venture company building the township, commands a combined turnover of $20 billion-plus. Salim and Universal Success are investors in the project, Ciputra the developer and Singapore-based Surbana the project manager. Ciputra Group was founded in the early eighties. PT Ciputra Development is a public listed company in Singapore. The group is responsible for most of the imposing land marks spread across Indonesia and Singapore which includes projects like Marina Square, Senen Shopping Centre, Ciputra Mall & Hotel, World Trade Centre (Jakarta), BNI 46 Tower, Bintaro Jaya the Garden City, Ciputra Hanoi International City and Citraraya Surabaya. The Salim Group is one of Asia's leading business groups with world class assets such as PT. Indofood Sukses Makmur, the world's largest instant-noodle producer, Bogasari Flour Mills, the world's largest flour-milling operation and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the dominant integrated telecom operator in the Philippines. Salim Group has been involved in property development and leisure industry for around 30 years. The businesses include hotel and resort development, golf courses, real estates, commercial buildings, shopping centers and industrial estates.cite web
url = http://www.axiomestates.com/kol_west.htm
title = Kolkata West International
accessdate = 2007-03-26
last =
first =
work =
publisher =]

Problems

The Howrah elite is protesting against the name of the project and are demanding that the word ‘Kolkata’ be dropped from the name.cite web
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070110/asp/calcutta/story_7239332.asp
title = Howrah Cry to alter name
accessdate = 2007-03-26
last = Mukherjee
first = Mita
work =
publisher =The Telegraph, 10 January 2007] Eyebrows have been raised over Howrah Municipal Corporation agreeing to supply 2 million gallons of water per day, as it is unable to supply water to many areas. [cite web
url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2007-03-26&usrsess=1695163791873&clid=23&id=178495
title = Civic body’s decision to sell water to Salim project earns flak
accessdate = 2007-03-26
last = Jain
first = Rupam
work =
publisher = The Statesman, 26 March 2007]

External links

* [http://www.kolkatawest.com Official Website]
* [http://www.axiomestates.com/img/sattelight/KWI.jpgSatellite view of site]

References

ee also