Happy days on the cards for Kolkata Metro through branding of stations

The General Manager of Kolkata Metro Railway had recently indicated that it was considering a proposal to increase its revenue by branding stations. As a result, keen corporate houses have woken up to immense possibilities.
Kolkata Metro is already on the job to work out the details of how much corporates will be charged for exclusive advertising rights at the stations because Metro Rail is keen to increase non-fare revenue by March 2016-17.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 29 October 2016.

Metro Rail has said that there will not be any change in the names of the stations, neither will the corporates be able to prefix or suffix their names to that of the stations. Already a bank and a corporate house has approached the authorities and, before taking any decision, the matter will be discussed with stakeholders, including the state.
Incidentally, corporate branding and dazzling Metro stations can be seen across the world and, in some cities, Metro stations are as swanky as airports. The proposal can lead to a win-win situation for all because, while the earnings of Metro will increase, commuters will get better services and corporates will grab eyeballs. Ultimately, the move could lead to cleaner, brighter stations and, if stations adjoining shopping malls are branded, it will be all the more advantageous.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Durga idol of 2016 to be preserved in Park Street metro station

There were thousands of Durga Pujas held in Kolkata this year and, only 39 of these came to the forefront because they were selected to participate in the first ever immersion procession along Red Road. Kolkata Metro Railway wanted one of these Durga idols to be kept at Esplanade station. It was agreed but could not be implemented because the height of the idol of Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsab, that had been selected, was more by three inches.
Efforts are on to preserve the idol at Park Street Metro station.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 16 October 2016.

The idol built by sculptor Purnendu Dey of Burdwan, has the look and feel of touchstone. It is a work of art and will be preserved in a special glass frame. The name of the sculptor will be mentioned on the glass frame.
Incidentally, the Red Road parade had a number of huge idols, some of them were more than 15ft high and some of the best idols and installations could be accommodated at a place near Eco Park in New Town.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Calcutta Tramways Company to increase frequency of tram service at night from November

Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) is planning to increase the frequency of tram services at night from next month for the benefit of daily commuters. This decision is because many late night commuters get stranded due to scarcity of private buses and auto rickshaws after 9 p.m.
Moreover, Kolkata Metro rail services also grind to a halt at around 10 p.m, and commuters face inconvenience to get to their destinations.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 15 October 2016.

The frequency of operation will be every 10 minutes gap between 9 p.m and 12 midnight. The routes to be covered are Howrah-Sealdah, Esplanade-Shyambazar, Nonapukur-Gariahat, Belgachia-Esplanade, and Esplanade-College Street route. Trams do not face traffic congestion at night since most of the private buses and auto operators stop their services.
Right now, CTC has around 200 trams. Most of them do not operate because of traffic congestion and encroachment pf other vehicles on the tracks. CTC officials hope revenue earning to improve if frequency of tram services is increased at night and have sought permission from city police and the transport department.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Kolkata Metro carried 800,000 passengers on chaturthi, it was 762,000 last year

On Chaturthi, the Kolkata Metro carried more than 800,000 people - the figure an all-time record for the city's transport lifeline. It was the Durga Puja and metro was a boon for pandal hoppers because the road above was choked with traffic snarls and vehicles literally crawled.
The corresponding figure of metro passengers last year was 762,000 and the hot spot was Kalighat station because that was the gateway for a whole lot of many big-ticket pujas.
Incidentally, around 600,000 people on average travel by the Metro on weekdays.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 7 October 2016.

The increase in numbers led to serpentine queues at many stations, the queues even stretching to the roads above. The trains were overcrowded and, at times, doors refused to close and RPF men had to request people to get off and take the next train.
The number of people disembarking at Kalighat was far more than those boarding the train.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Cleanliness drive on Kolkata Metro

Metro Rail in Kolkata is the oldest metro train in the country and is, generally, maintained in a neat and clean way. That has been the tradition since inception. However, it has undertaken a cleanliness drive on Wednesday as a part of the ‘Swachh Rail -- Swachh Bharat-- Swachhta Saptah’. It would be a week-long program that began on 17 September.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 23 September 2016.

The comprehensive cleanliness awareness campaign was initiated at Esplanade metro station by Swami-jis of Ramakrishna Math, Yogodyan who spoke about the importance of cleanliness. It was followed by a speech of the general manager, Metro Railway, Kolkata who stressed upon cleanliness in trains, stations and metro premises for maintaining a healthy environment.
Subsequently, there was a mime show and a Nukkad drama to create awareness among passengers about the importance of cleanliness.


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Kolkata Metro stations to have kiosks for fast foods like momos and pizzas

Kolkata Metro stations will soon acquire a new look with the introduction of food stores that will be serving momos and pizzas. Names that have cropped are Wow Momo and Domino's Pizza - they will be among the 19 food stores at 16 stations. A soft drink company is also expected to open an outlet.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 21 April 2016.

Wow Momos have already opened its first kiosk at Kavi Nazrul station about a week ago and another 13 more are on the anvil across nine stations that include Tollygunge, Rabindra Sarovar, Kalighat, Esplanade and Shyambazar. The chain will offer a limited menu across their steamed, fried and pan-fried platters.
Domino's Pizza plans to open three kiosks in the Metro stations, each spread across 50-110sq ft. Two of these will come up in three months time. It will have a set menu offering two vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties. The pizzas will be brought in from the nearest outlet of the company.
Metro stations do not have any food kiosks, and it would be convenient for the commuters to have food on the go but, passengers will not be allowed to take food to the platforms - that is to to prevent littering.


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Maoists could attack Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata Metro stations

Eastern Railway has received intelligence reports that suggest that the railway stations of Kolkata namely Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata Metro railway stations could be targeted by Maoists.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 29 July 2015.

It appears that Maoist posters have been found at some railway stations of Eastern Railway like Ratanpur and Kajra railway stations in Jamalpur-Kiul section of Malda Division and, security has accordingly been strengthened at these locations.
Moreover, in view of the terror strike at Gurudaspur in Punjab, extra security measures have been adopted because, the railways have become an area of soft target.
Some of the measures are sniffer dogs for checking at important stations, passenger areas as well as mail, express, passenger and EMU trains. In addition, special watch was also being kept at crowded places like computerized reservation counters, cloak rooms, waiting halls, toilets and especially concourse areas.
Notwithstanding the above, Quick Reaction Teams have been formed. All the divisions of Eastern Railway like Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol and Malda have been alerted to gear up their security machinery to handle any sabotage or terrorist activities.
However, given the lack of equipment like CCTV, metal detectors and the gaping holes in the fencing of railway stations, providing full security coverage would be a major challenge.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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100 cities in India would turn into Smart Cities

#SmartCities #AMRUT #JNNURM #Modi The Smart City project is yet another pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is meant to recast the urban landscape of the country and, towards this, the Union Cabinet has approved Central government spending worth Rs 98,000 crore under two new urban missions over the next five years.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 30 April 2015.
For those who felt that Smart Cities’ would house Smart Alecs, please be informed that under this mission, 100 smart cities would be built with central assistance of Rs 48,000 crore and another 500 cities with outlay of Rs 50,000 crore. The cities that would be developed would be selected through a ‘competition’ which would ascertain their ability to achieve mission objectives. The task would be broken down into elements - each state would have to shortlist a number of smart city aspirants and their task would be to prepare proposals for the Centre.

The aim of the mission is to more efficiently utilize available assets, resources and infrastructure in order to enhance quality of urban life and, simultaneously, provide a clean and sustainable environment.
Some pointers on how to proceed are – develop intelligent transport solutions that would pay dividends by reducing commuting time. There would be focus on adequate and clean water supply, sanitation and solid waste management, efficient urban mobility and public transportation, affordable housing for the poor, power supply, robust IT connectivity, governance, especially e-governance, and citizen participation.
Under the AMRUT scheme, the focus would be in 500 locations with a population of one lakh and above. Cities under this category would be those situated on stems of main rivers, a few capital cities and important cities located in hilly areas and tourist spots.
AMRUT is the acronym for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation and is said to be an improvement over the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). It seems to be a case of a new wine in the old bottle. From all appearances, the leaders at the center are allergic to the names of Nehru and Gandhi and want to erase them from public memory.
Of course, there is nothing to complain about because everyone does it. When the British left, we renamed plenty of roads and monuments. Later, whenever any government changed in any state, those who took over power went on a renaming spree. West Bengal is the best example. When the Left Front took over the reins, they painted the Ochterloney Monument in the Maidan in red and when the Trinamool Congress took over, they painted the roads and curbs in white and blue and also renamed the stations of the Kolkata Metro.
Therefore, AMRUT in place of JNNURM would be fine if Smart Cities really emerged from the filth and chaos that has become the trademark of our country. We Indians must first learn the basic civic sense and stop spitting, littering the surroundings, follow traffic rules, show respect to elders and women. Once that is achieved, the Swatchh Bharat Mission would not be needed nor would the Ganga Bachao Andolan be necessary.

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Very soon, the Indian Railways might be run by private agencies

#bibekdebroy #indianrailways #mamtabanerjee #kolkatametro The high powered Bibek Debroy panel has suggested several ways to ensure that the Indian Railways become a profit making concern and one of these ways is to hand over its working to private concerns. It should delink from producing coaches, wagons and locomotives and switch over to commercial accounting of railway functions. Moreover, it should hand over the running of both passenger trains and freight trains to private players.
Moreover, this Debroy panel has also suggested that the national transporter delink itself from welfare services like running of schools and hospitals apart from managing the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 1 April 2015.

Another of its suggestions is to have an Indian Railway Manufacturing Company to replace all existing production units and, simultaneously, have another holding company for railway stations.
The panel has also indicated that there should be one ministry of transport in the future and that the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation should be detached from the railways – it had been integrated during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee as rail minister.
The suggestions are very practical ones because, till now, the Indian Railways has been used as a political tool and each and every railway minister has played to the galleries and has tried to get things done for his or her constituencies. Many of the projects that have been sanctioned have remained on paper and innumerable foundation stones have been laid but not the corresponding railway lines.

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