KMC concerned about losses from beautification project

Missiong beautification 8212; the much hyped project of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to revamp the city 8212; is yet to be implemented in many areas.

Missiong beautification 8212; the much hyped project of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC to revamp the city 8212; is yet to be implemented in many areas. Reason: The civic body is now concerned about the revenue loss due to the removal of hoardings at various crossings and public places in the city.

8220;If we go ahead with the beautification project then we have to remove at least eight hoardings immediately, which will cause an annual revenue loss of Rs 40 lakh,8221; said a civic official of the advertising department of the KMC.

He added the problem was not considered when the project was conceived.

Initially, it was expected that city8217;s advertising agencies would volunteer to beautify some places by giving up their commercial interests, the plan however failed when no agency came forward to take the initiative.

According to sources, the KMC was forced to change its proposal and agreed the agencies would be allowed to place their hoardings at spots demarcated by the civic body.

Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, however, denied any such changes in the project. 8220;The project can become successful only if we remove hoardings from public places. So, we cannot allow agencies to put them up at other places,8221; he said.

The agencies, however, have a different story to tell. 8220;The beautification project should be based on a give-and-take policy. We will never beautify a place until our commercial interests are considered,8221; said Anjan Chowdhury, managing director of Enkon.

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8220;Agencies are assigned to beautify the road corners of Park Street, Camac Street and Shakespeare Sarani. We have, however, asked the KMC to allow us to put up hoardings in areas like Gol Park, Kalighat and Rasbehari Avenue. But we are still awaiting its approval,8221; he added.

Of the 18 places to be beautified in the first phase of the project, work has begun only in Jadavpur, Southern Avenue and Phool Bagan. Phase II of Mission Beautification 8212; under which 14 spots will be beautifid 8212; has also been submitted to the mayor-in-council for approval.