College Street in north Kolkata… Photo by —— Subhojyoti Kanjilal
Spanning over 1.5 km, the College Street book market or ‘boi para’ is considered to be the world’s largest second-hand book market surrounded by prestigious colonial era institutions and structures like College Square, Presidency University, Indian Coffee House and Calcutta Medical College. After conducting a survey of the area, officials said that the entire College Street area cannot be converted into no-vehicle zones due to traffic related issues.
As for the rest, the agency that will be selected will conduct further surveys as would be required to prepare a detail layout plan as to how the entire area could be remodelled,” said a govt official. The authorities will develop pedestrian and eco-friendly options to move on the area with a dedicated circular section that will block regular cars, featuring nearby bike-rental stands, electric karts for the elderly and specially designed heritage trams to bring and preserve the heritage feel, as desired by the minister, officials said. Kolkata: Following state urban development & municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul’s visit in July, the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is to engage an agency for preparation of a detail layout plan, architectural design along with a detail project report for implementing the proposed remodelling of the iconic College Street and College Square area including the adjoining books streets into a heritage book district on the lines of London’s Oxford Street. “The main College Street area will not be altered as it is a busy traffic zone. As per plans, select roads will ban regular cars where only bicycles and battery-operated carts will be allowed. The main College Street will remain open to normal traffic to prevent city congestion.