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= [[KolkataNew Town 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]]

| area_total_km2 = 93.93

| 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 the [[Satellite city|satellite24 citiesParganas]] ofand state[[South capital24 [[KolkataParganas]], New Town is locateddistrict in the east [[Kolkata|Kolkata.India]]<ref>{{citen news[[States |title=Satelliteand Townsterritories 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 [[KolkataWest Metropolitan AreaBengal]]. It is administered by NKDA (New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA).<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|former 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>

Most of New Town is located in the districts [[KolkataNorth district24 Parganas]] district. It was declared as a part of the [[Kolkata Metropolitan Area]] in August 2016 by [[List of governors of West Bengal|Governor of West Bengal]].<ref name="KMA2007">{{cite web |title=KMA notification |url=http://www.wburbandev.gov.in/circulars/noti_no_3375_ud_o_m_sb_s-4_98.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220210448/http://www.wburbandev.gov.in/circulars/noti_no_3375_ud_o_m_sb_s-4_98.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=7 December 2016 |publisher=Urban Development Department, Government of West Bengal}}</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>

:LauncedLaunched by Ambuja Neotia group and HDFC group in 2023, it is a 72 Acresacre township with an investment of ₹550 Crores. The township will have Nursing College, Hospital, Para medical College, IT/ITes space, Residential Towers, Villas and Club house with 25% reserved for economically weaker sections.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/hdfc-ambuja-in-72-acre-kolkata-realty-deal/cid/1802568 | title=HDFC, Ambuja in 72-acre realty deal }}</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]].

The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has been constituted under The New Town Kolkata Development Authority Act, 2007 (The West Bengal Act XXX of 2007) for rendering various civic services and amenities within New Town, Kolkata and it has come into effect since November, 2008. It is a transitional arrangement in the way of creation of an Urban Local Body (ULB). The administration is headed by a chairman, exercising authority over a member secretary and chief executive officer, who in turn oversee various specific committees, set up to implement various duties.<ref name="KMA2007" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nkdamar.org/Pages/Background.aspx |title=Background |website=New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) |access-date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526182502/https://www.nkdamar.org/Pages/Background.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

*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>