The Hindu : Ridding Kolkata roads of rallies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003

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Ridding Kolkata roads of rallies

By Our Special Correspondent

Kolkata June 25. The West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, today made a significant move towards showcasing Kolkata as he called for a political consensus as well as administrative measures to take the label ``city of rallies'' from Kolkata.

At a meeting with senior Ministers and Secretaries, Mr. Bhattacharjee, whose priority is industrialisation of Bengal asked the police administration to prepare a blueprint for making the congested city roads free of rallies and processions and work out fixed venues for such political events.

Mr. Bhattacharjee held the meeting at Writers Buildings where he also underlined the priorities for showcasing Kolkata as part of his pursuit for investment from abroad as well as Indian business houses.

Interestingly, Mr. Bhattacharjee's display of concern has come at a time when the police administration and different citizens' lobbies have been clamouring for measures to put an end to the current political practice of taking out processions or holding meetings in busy city areas on week days, holding up traffic and disrupting work.

The city police administration has already put forward a proposal to Mr. Bhattacharjee who is also the police minister suggesting option of measures for improving the stereotyped image of Kolkata.

Among the other priorities identified by the Government are: improvement of road conditions, modern car parks under the flyovers being constructed, beautification of parks and gardens, laying of better roads and restricting the movement of three-wheelers in the city.

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Ridding Kolkata roads of rallies