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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Kolkata to get its own Ferris Wheel like the London Eye

Kolkata will soon be getting its own giant Ferris Wheel that will be modeled on the ‘London Eye’. It will be around 130 meters high and will be erected at the center of Millennium Park on the bank of river Hooghly.
The project is awaiting approval of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT).
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 6 October 2016.

The giant wheel is a pet project of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Kolkata Eye would provably have 36 air-conditioned capsules made of steel and glass and each of the capsules can accommodate eight people. It would rotate slowly to offer a bird’s eye view of the city.
It is a project of KMDA, under the department of state urban development, and will come up on Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) owned land. KMDA and KoPT have formed a 50-50 special purpose vehicle (SPV) for this first-of-its kind giant wheel project in India which is leased out to a British firm for a period of 30 years. It would take people to a height of 100 meters and will take nearly half an hour to complete a full circle.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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