Work on Calcutta Eye in the Millennium Park on the banks of the Hoogly to start in January 2017

Calcutta Eye is one of chief minister Mamata Banerjee's dream project - it tries to recreate the famous London Eye landmark at Millennium Park along the Hooghly. It has, finally, received the green signal of the National Green Tribunal after being held up for nearly two years.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 1 November 2016.

Objections had been raised by environment activists because the bank of the Hooghly was eroding and projects were being planned at the cost of blocking the flow of the river. There were genuine concerns about the safety of the proposed Calcutta Eye project because it would be a very heavy and tall structure and people will be riding the giant wheel. However, fast erosion of the riverbank has changed the character of the soil.
But, with the green signal from the NGT, work on it is expected to begin by January or February.
Incidentally, parts of the giant wheel would be built by different companies in Belgium, UK and China and would finally be assembled in Calcutta. It is expected to take 18 months from the day work starts for the wheel to be ready.
The Ferris wheel will be 120 metres in diameter and have 60 cubicles, each with eight seats. The budget for the project is Rs 300 crore and the share of the state government is Rs 86 crore.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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