Prinsep Memorial Heritage Site.
This is the name given to the Indian Army’s ambitious plan to turn the area around Prinsep Ghat into a world-class heritage site. Nowadays any new plan to facelift Kolkata’s image is promptly termed world-class whether it deserves so or not.
But that doesn’t mean the city lacks incredible landmarks that can be made into attractive spots. The Millenium Park is a prime example. And now the Army itself wants to renovate the Prinsep Ghat and its adjoining area. It helps that the Eastern Command’s HQ, the Fort William, is situated just across the Strand Road from where the Prinsep Ghat is located.
The setting is marvelous. Forming the backdrop of Prinsep Ghat is none other than the magnificent Vidyasagar Setu. The plan that the Army has finalized includes an amphitheater accompanying which will be a deep waterbody and a floating jetty from where people will watch the events at the theater.
The other attractions are a medium-sized sanctuary for birds and a military rail museum that will come up on the abandoned circular railway platform.
Presumably, the makeover project will be overseen by the Army but it has taken care to involve environmentalists like Subhas Datta as well as other government agencies. The entire land in question belongs to the Army, and so one can be reasonably sure that the project will be executed in a timely manner.
Good it will be so for we the Kolkattans have grown wary of government’s various grand announcements that seldom see the light of the day.
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