Kolkata, June 04: Euphoric with her victory in the Bengal civic polls, Trinamool Congress ( TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said her party would transform Kolkata into a city like London or any other modern European city.
“ I will keep my promise to make Kolkata look like London very soon,” Mamata said, adding that the TMC was committed to turning the City of Joy into a modern international city.
The TMC chief said Kolkata’s development had suffered mainly because of too many power structures — the Kolkata Municipal Corporation ( KMC), the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority ( KMDA) and the Kolkata Improvement Trust ( KIT).
Kolkata, one of the oldest cities in India, was the first capital of British India. The city claims to be the nation’s largest metropolis in terms of area. However, it is plagued by a large number of civic problems, including traffic congestion, waterlogging and scarcity of drinking water.
“ It is unfortunate that Kolkata could not qualify as an A- 1 city,” Mamata said, adding, “ Once we get to form the government, we will have to take major policy decisions to integrate the development process.” The ruling Left Front ridicules Mamata’s claim to make Kolkata look like London, though the city has a unique blend of Western and Eastern influences in its architecture.
The TMC has decided to constitute a high- power experts’ group to guide the new municipal corporation in developing the city into a modern one.
All the members of the group may not be from the political world, and will include planners and technical experts, the TMC chief said.
“ I have similar experts’ groups in the railway ministry as well,” she said.
Mamata said many senior TMC leaders, who did not contest the poll and have a lot of experience, will be part of the group, hinting at former mayor Subrata Mukherjee’s likely presence in the panel.
—Agencies