Howrah revival plan focus on 3 sectors

UK-based consultancy firm Mott MacDonald (MMD) is in the final stages of preparing the concept planning report for the proposed Howrah Rejuvenation Plan, venture of West Bengal Government and the United Kingdom (UK) agency, Department for International Development (DFID).

The report is expected to be completed by October and placed before DFID. "The broad strategy has been presented to DFID and the final report would be placed by the end of October," said Michael Moulds, team leader, Urban and Regional Planning, International.

The consultancy firm has identified three key areas of development, called "key catalytic projects", covering the sectors of sport and fitness; biotechnology and pharmaceuticals; and health, educational and hospitality. Projects covered Howrah district with focus on the area between Uluberia and Bally, just west of Kolkata.

"These three catalytic projects along with the riverfront development plan would play a major role in rejuvenating the area, once called Sheffield of the East because of its engineering units," Moulds added.

The initial report has identified certain chronic problems in the area. "The town is home to some of the largest slums in Asia, with large-scale unemployment. Beside traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure also add to the problem of Howrah town," he added.

Mott MacDonald is also exploring the probable possibility of connectivity through light rail system and buses as part of the riverside development.

Accordingly a special purpose vehicle would be formed by the state government and the project would be developed under the public private partnership.

The British firm, engaged last year by DFID to prepare an 'economic rejuvenation plan' for Howrah would only offer the advisory services.

SBI Caps is the sub-consultant for the financial advisory part.

Apart from the Howrah project, Matt MacDonald was also engaged in two other projects in the state.

"We are offering advisory services for the restructuring of the sick PSUs in the state and tourism development project of the Damodar Valley Corporation," Moulds said while talking with the reporters in the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Confereration of Indian Industry (CII).

Under the restructuring projects for sick state PSUs, the company will handle seven PSUs.

"The report would be submitted in six months and subsequently we would be recommending a model for there revival to the state government," he explained.

Its other project was with DVC, under which the consultant would assess the scope of tourism development at the DVC dams and other areas in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. MMD was revamping its office in Kolkata and adding a division.

"Very soon we would be moving in a new larger facility in Kolkata as the oil and gas division of the company would also operate from the city," said Pradeep Maitra, regional head, business development.

The new office was likely to be at Salt Lake and would be the support office for MMD Gulf operations. MMD would increase the staff strength in the city to 200 from 20 at present.

"With the oil and gas division coming and adding to the management consultancy service, and with the other departments like industry and buildings, environment and infrastructure slated to come in subsequently, we would require additional manpower," he added.