Eiffel Tower replica to come up in New Town

A 55-metre replica of the Eiffel Tower in being planned at the Eco Park in the smart city New Town.
The replica of the tower would come up in the Eco Park and is expected to be a major tourist attraction, West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HIDCO) chairman Debashis Sen told PTI.
The project planned in the satellite city would take about three years to complete after its work order is issued and nearly 300 tonne of steel would be required to build it, HIDCO officials said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is laying the foundation stone of the project today in presence of the Consul General of France in Kolkata.

Officials said that it would also be an expression of solidarity towards world peace and pay tribute to the 129 victims of the November 13 terror attack in the French capital.
"With its completion, tourists can have a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower without going to Paris," Sen said, adding, "The spot has been identified to showcase Bengal's outstanding artworks drawing attention of the tourists from the country and abroad."

He said the tower would be a giant steel structure with a height of an 18-storey building.
"We could have tried and constructed an exact replica if the location had not been close to the glide path of the flights landing and taking off from NSC Bose International Airport," Sen said.

"The Tower will have two tiers where people can go up and stand to catch a glimpse of the town below," the HIDCO chairman said.
"The viewing gallery will be at a height of 25 m and two lifts will be there to carry the passengers. The base of the structure would rest on 650 sq ft," Sen said.
The project was conceived by the HIDCO recently and the West Bengal government immediately gave its clearance.
"We will float a tender soon to select the agency that will build the structure," the HIDCO chairman said.
"This will be the first such prototype of the Eiffel Tower in India and its architectural designs are worked out by the Institute for Steel Development and Growth," Sen said.

One of the wonders of the modern world, the 324-m Eiffel Tower is the most popular tourist attraction in Paris.
The City of Joy has already got a replica of the famous London tower 'Big Ben' developed by South Dum Dum Municipality as a permanent structure.
The 90 ft tall tower stands at the busy junction of Lake Town-VIP Road crossing since October last.