New Town, Kolkata: Difference between revisions

| other_name = Rajarhat New Town

| settlement_type = [[KolkataCity]]

| image1= BiswaNew BanglaTown GateSkyline incaptured from Bengal Intelligent Park, Saltlake, Kolkata 01(1 of 2 photos).jpg

|caption1= [[BiswaNew BanglaTown skyline Gate]]

| image6= NewBiswa TownBangla SkylineGate captured from Bengal Intelligent Park, Saltlake,in Kolkata (2 of 2 photos)01.jpg

|caption6= New[[Biswa TownBangla skylineGate]]

| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of West Bengal|DistrictsDistrict]]

| subdivision_name2 = [[KolkataNorth 24 Parganas]] and [[South 24 Parganas]]

| blank1_name_sec1 = [[HumanLok sex ratio|Sex ratioSabha]] constituency

| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency)|Barasat]]

| blank4_info_sec1 = [[Rajarhat New Town (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Rajarhat New Town]]

| website = {{ubl|{{URL|http://www.nkdamar.org}},|

{{URL|http://www.wbhidcoltd.com}}}}

'''New Town''' ([[also known as|a.k.a]]{{aka}} '''Rajarhat New Town''') is a posh [[planned city|planned]] [[smartSatellite city]] located in the state of [[West BengalKolkata]] located in both [[India]].North Being24 oneParganas ofdistrict|North the24 Parganas]] and [[SatelliteSouth city|satellite24 citiesParganas]] ofdistrict statein capitalthe [[KolkataIndia]]n to[[States theand east,<ref>{{citeterritories news |title=Satellite Towns List |publisher=Walk Throughof India |url=http://www.walkthroughindia.com/walkthroughs/top-12-upcoming-planned-satellite-cities-india/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225214125/http://www.walkthroughindia.com/cities/top-12-upcoming-planned-satellite-cities-india/ |archive-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> it is a partstate]] of the [[KolkataWest Metropolitan AreaBengal]]. It is administered by NKDA (New Town Kolkata Development Authority).<ref>{{cite web |title=The New Town, Kolkata Development Authority Act, 2007 |url=http://www.nkdamar.org/Statutes/The%20NKDA%20Act%202007.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211031733/https://www.nkdamar.org/Statutes/The%20NKDA%20Act%202007.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2022 |access-date=21 March 2017 |publisher=NTKDA}}</ref> New Town is declared as a "Solar City" and "[[Smart City|Smart Green City]]" by [[Government of India]].<ref name="neliti"/>

[[HIDCO]] plans developing infrastructure like - roads, drains, sewerage line, water supply lines, major embellishment works and executed constructions like - buildings, projects, parks, museum, subways, over-bridges in New Town.<ref name="Times of India">{{cite news |title=TimesNew ofTown Indiato get three subways, an overbridge |first1=Suman |last1=Chakraborti |date=13 February 2014 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/New-Town-to-get-three-subways-an-overbridge/articleshow/30301719.cms |access-date=13 May 2015 |publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.comTimes of India |archive-date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317084255/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/New-Town-to-get-three-subways-an-overbridge/articleshow/30301719.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> An information technology and residential hub is developed at New Town. New Town was enabled with 10.5&nbsp;km of Wi-Fi Zone along the Major Arterial Road (part of [[Biswa Bangla Sarani]]) from Haldiram, near [[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata Airport]] to Salt Lake Sector V, which also make it India's first Wi-Fi road connectivity. The stretch has already been declared as a green corridor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/10-5km-Wi-Fi-zone-in-Rajarhat-New-Town/articleshow/36728018.cms |first1=Suman |last1=Chakraborti |title=Wi-Fi connectivity: 10.5km Wi-Fi zone in Rajarhat New Town {{pipe}} Kolkata News - Times of India |website=[[The Times of India]] |date=18 June 2014 |access-date=15 March 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120214040/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/10-5km-Wi-Fi-zone-in-Rajarhat-New-Town/articleshow/36728018.cms |archive-date=20 January 2016}}</ref>

The area mainly consisted of huge acres of cultivable lands and water bodies, which was acquired and developed in a planned manner. The process of investing in residential and industrial facilities and infrastructural development of the area was mainly started under the leadership of the then [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]], [[Jyoti Basu]] in the late 1990s.<ref name="wbhidcoltd">{{cite web|url=https://www.wbhidcoltd.com/about-new-town|title=HIDCO Bhawan {{pipe}} New Town Kolkata|website=wbhidcoltd.comHIDCO Bhawan |access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=29 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129040254/https://www.wbhidcoltd.com/about-new-town|url-status=live}}</ref> The master plan envisions a township which is at least three times bigger than the neighbouring planned [[Salt Lake City, Kolkata|Salt Lake City]].

New Town was declared as a ''Solar City'' by the former [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]]-lead [[Government of India]]<ref name="neliti">{{cite journal|url=https://www.neliti.com/publications/263292/rajarhat-new-town-an-urban-perspective-a-case-study-of-urbanization-west-bengal|title=Rajarhat New Town an Urban Perspective: A Case Study of Urbanization, West Bengal, India|journal=International Journal of New Technology and Research|date=May 2017 |volume=3 |issue=5 |page=263292 |access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=29 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129040255/https://www.neliti.com/publications/263292/rajarhat-new-town-an-urban-perspective-a-case-study-of-urbanization-west-bengal|url-status=live |last1=Biswas |first1=Amar |last2=Singh |first2=Omveer }}</ref> and later this city was declared as [[Smart Cities Mission|''Smart Green City'']] by [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]]-lead Government of India with the help of [[Government of West Bengal]] following a proposal submitted by [[Mamata Banerjee]] ([[Chief Minister of West Bengal]])<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/West-Bengal-seeks-smart-green-city-tag-for-New-Town/articleshow/37867094.cms |first1=Suman |last1=Chakraborti |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706102800/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/West-Bengal-seeks-smart-green-city-tag-for-New-Town/articleshow/37867094.cms |archive-date = 6 July 2014 |title = West Bengal seeks 'smart green city' tag for New Town {{pipe}} Kolkata News - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]] |date=6 July 2014 }}</ref><ref name="eletsonline">{{cite web|url=https://smartcity.eletsonline.com/rajarhat-new-town-to-become-smart-city/|website=smartcity.eletsonline.comSmart City - Elets Technomedia |title=Rajarhat New Town to become Smart City|date=11 May 2015 |access-date=4 February 2023|archive-date=29 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129040257/https://smartcity.eletsonline.com/rajarhat-new-town-to-become-smart-city/|url-status=live}}</ref> but later withdrawn from the Smart Cities Mission after the [[Trinamool Congress#Electoral performance|AITC-governed Bengal government]] decided to withdraw all cities of West Bengal from the competition.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/west-bengal-mamata-dumps-centres-smart-city-project-to-develop-cities-on-its-own-2983994/ |first1=Aniruddha |last1=Ghosal |url-access=subscription |title=West Bengal: Mamata dumps Centre's Smart City project, to develop cities on its own |date=19 August 2016 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=27 June 2017 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702215914/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/west-bengal-mamata-dumps-centres-smart-city-project-to-develop-cities-on-its-own-2983994/ |archive-date=2 July 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> It has rejected ''{{INR}}1,000 crore'' to be given for development of the city as smart city.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/green-city-mission-rs-50-lakh-each-for-all-125-municipalities-in-west-bengal-mamata-banerjee-4438068/ |first1=Aniruddha |last1=Ghosal |title=Green City Mission: Rs 50 lakh each for all 125 municipalities in West Bengal |date=21 December 2016 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=30 June 2017 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711160442/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/green-city-mission-rs-50-lakh-each-for-all-125-municipalities-in-west-bengal-mamata-banerjee-4438068/ |archive-date=11 July 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

New Town has ana proposed area of 93.9&nbsp;km² in which 30.8&nbsp;km² is used for township and 60.354&nbsp;km² area is under planning. The township of New Town is divided into Action Area I, II, III and a Central Business District.<ref name="wbhidcoltd.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wbhidcoltd.com/upload_file/report_publication/report11.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129031509/https://www.wbhidcoltd.com/upload_file/report_publication/report11.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The erstwhile planning area of HIDCO also included Action Area - IV (still not started). The Central Business District (CBD) is located between Action Area - I & II. HIDCO installed the geographic information system (GIS) to integrate the database on the number of house owners, property tax, mutation, building construction etc. in New Town.<ref>{{cite web|title=HIDCO Overview|url=https://www.wburbandev.gov.in/Home/attached_office_hidco|access-date=15 August 2019|archive-date=15 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815052111/https://www.wburbandev.gov.in/Home/attached_office_hidco|url-status=live}}</ref>

New Town has emerged as the second IT hub of Kolkata after [[Salt Lake City, Kolkata|Salt Lake]]. [[List of tech parks in Kolkata#New Town|Growing number of tech parks]] makes New Town a preferred destination for IT and ITes in East India. Several Information Technology majors are operational like [[Ericsson]], Accenture, Capgemini, Tech Mahindra, ITC Infotech, Mindtree, Adani Labs, [[British Telecom]], [[Tata Consultancy Services|TCS]], [[Wipro]], [[Infosys]], [[Cognizant]] etc.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://m.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kolkatas-sector-v-new-town-on-overdrive-add-20000-it-jobs-in-last-6-months/articleshow/96997664.cms | title=Kolkata's Sector V, New Town on overdrive, add 20,000 IT jobs in last 6 months | newspaper=The Times of India | date=15 January 2023 }}</ref> New Town also houses [[Bengal Silicon Valley Tech Hub]].

*A Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) is planned to connect Action Area III to the Biswa Bangla Gate. The estimated cost of the project is around ₹4500 Crores.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://metrorailtoday.com/news/hidco-plans-monorail-type-light-rail-transit-system-for-new-town-and-salt-lake-in-kolkata | title=HIDCO plans Monorail type Light Rail Transit System for New Town and Salt Lake in Kolkata &#124; Metro Rail Today }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://m.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/hi-tech-link-plan-for-new-towns-action-area-iii/articleshow/74309112.cms | title=Kolkata: Hi-tech link plan for New Town's Action Area III | newspaper=The Times of India | date=26 February 2020 }}</ref>

[[AIFF National Center of Excellence]] is a "state of art" football complex which includes India’sIndia's first ever roof top pitch. The sports complex is spread across 15 Acres and built with an investment of ₹200 crores.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/aiff-in-talks-with-corporates-for-building-national-centre-of-excellence-5502866/ | title=AIFF in talks with corporates for building National Centre of Excellence | date=20 December 2018 }}</ref>

[[Cricket Association of Bengal]] is building an international cricket stadium in New Town. In 2022, CAB bought a 14 Acres plot with ₹30 Crore.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sportzpoint.com/cricket/cab-bought-14-acre-land-in-rajarhat-for-the-new-international-stadium/ | title=CAB bought 14 Acre land in Rajarhat for the new International Stadium | date=5 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://m.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/state-to-hand-overnew-town-plot-to-sourav-for-stadium/articleshow/92013453.cms | title=State to hand overNew Town plot to Sourav for stadium | newspaper=The Times of India | date=5 June 2022 }}</ref>