• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Port Info

• Ships in Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• The Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Kolkata , March 17

THOUGH Kolkata and its population are fast expanding, the West Bengal Transport Minister, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, has said that his department may not be able to provide adequate modern transportation facilities because such facilities would not be cost-effective.

Mr Chakraborty said that the city was the victim of the partition of the country more than 55 years ago. Lakhs of people came from erstwhile East Pakistan in 1947 and settled down in the city encroaching on roads and government land. It was difficult to remove them because of certain political compulsions.

However, his Ministry, within the limited resources available, had been trying hard to put in place new major multimode transport systems through the build own transfer route. Mr Chakroborty said that serious efforts were now being made to utilise the Hooghly river.

The State Government would shortly sign an MoU with a Singapore company for introducing "river taxi" services. A series of new jetties would be set up at different points of the river with financial assistance from the Union Government. Private sector participation in this venture was welcomed.

Addressing a symposium on "the roadmap for fast-track transport system — prospects and challenges" organised by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce here on Thursday, Mr Chakraborty said the State Government had approached the Sahara Group and Jet Airways to revive the defunct Behala Flying Club, which at one time used to produce trained commercial pilots.

The club, which is under the administrative control of his department, would be equipped with modern training facilities to produce commercial pilots.

Meanwhile, the State Government has approached the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for approval to set up an airport at Durgapur to exclusively carry goods traffic. A similar air cargo airport had been planned for New Town in North 24 Parganas. This apart, an elevated rail transport system and four express highways would be constructed in collaboration with private partners. These projects would be completed within three years, the Minister added.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Cut in commission: Travel agents threaten to suspend AI ticket sales

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line