Howrah Bridge in Kolkata on Thursday. (Source: Express Photo by Partha Paul) Howrah Bridge in Kolkata on Thursday. (Source: Express Photo by Partha Paul)

A delegation of Japanese government officials and members of Asian Development Bank and World Bank met state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim at Writers Buildings in Kolkata on Tuesday to discuss ways to give Howrah a facelift by reviving its sick industries and improving road connectivity and waste management system.

Howrah Mayor Rathin Chakraborty, who also attended the meeting, said: “The intention is to help Howrah regain its lost glory as an industrial city. Many units are lying shut, as these have not been able to keep up with the technological advancement. We will help these units with required infrastructure and technological knowhow.”

In the first phase, Japan will reportedly invest Rs 500 crore to revive 15,000 medium and small industries in Howrah. Upgradation of Serampore water treatment plant, constructing a water treatment plant at Ghusure and encouraging water transport are on cards. At the meeting, beautification of the riverfront between Botanical Garden and Belur were also discussed.

Further, the meeting discussed the overhaul of road infrastructure, as Howrah connected Kolkata with several states and was an important part of the proposed Eastern Freight Corridor spread over 1,856 km — from Punjab through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand and ending at Dankuni in Hooghly district. “We are mulling extending it to Nazirgunj in Howrah to tackle the problem of traffic congestion,” Chakraborty said.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) will conduct a survey about the modalities of the project. The report is to be submitted within three months.

Hiroki Miyajima, manager for Development Cooperation Division of Japan’s International Affairs Bureau, said: “The Bengal government is very enthusiastic about urban development in Howrah. We have met once. There will be few more meetings before things are finalised.”

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