Go Kolkata Go!!!

The city of Kolkata is known for many things, like old world charm, or the tram, some meeting and michils (rallies), mach, misti and more. Many well-known cliches some not so. Many of the old building are better painted if not repaired or restored. Trams are making way for our ever growing metro railways and smoking bleching cars. Political meetings however numerous is far less than what they used to be a decade back. Our fish and sweets also have found fusion with western and eastern tastes. In short, Kolkata which for so many decades seem to have wedded a time machine is finally giving up its old paint and embracing the new.

As a kid who lived far away from this city and found it to be just as same as he left it year after year. Today I find it changing at a pace never seen before. As new glass and steel, towers rise ever higher in their race to kiss the sky and new metro rail lines, and flyovers bring us closer. The change in the landscape of the city is evident. As the city changes and "develops" in this new century. New problems will be needed to be solved by both its leaders and citizens alike.

EM Bypass: New Metro Line-6 and Atmosphere under-construction.

The question we should all ask today is not whether we can be like London, New York or Shanghai but like Calcutta or Kolkata. Home to millions, from near and far. Can we become among the most livable cities in the world? Can we move millions without burning hole in the pocket or fossil fuels? Can we house millions more yet not choke lungs and arteries of the cities in form of numerous grounds, ponds and canals? Perhaps if in next 20 years or so we can find answers to these questions we can gift coming generation a city we did not get to live it. But a city far better than what our grandparents tell stories of.

Having lived in so many cities across this sub-continent and now being a Public Policy and Governance student with a specialization in Urbanisation. I cannot help but ask questions which our traditional print or television media is failing to ask about our City of Joy. Hence I start today this endeavour of mine to bring stories that are relevant to our city and questions whose answer might help us make a better city.

Go Kolkata Go!!!