Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the state cabinet on Thursday decided to set up a shopping complex opposite to the zoo.
“In principle, it was approved by the state cabinet to use the land of the zoo hospital and aquarium for the shopping complex. The unused space will be used and the aquarium will be rebuilt as the big shopping complex will give space to Bengal artisans,” the CM said, adding the zoo hospital would come up on zoo land.
The state cabinet also decided to recruit 262 firemen.
The state govt will also set up a mall to showcase the leather products manufactured in Bantala and other places of Bengal and Banglar sari. Work had started on it opposite the Alipore jail museum, the CM said, adding the mall would have the best leather product brand. She said that half the space would be used for leather products and the rest for saris, catering to both male and female shoppers. CM had announced about the leather mall earlier this year.
The CM said a plan had also been drafted to build big shopping complexes in district headquarters and that the government would provide land free of cost. The builder will provide two floors to self-help groups, who can’t often sell their products due to lack of proper space. Banerjee said the shopping complexes should ideally be like malls, complete with car parking facilities, cafes, cinemas and community halls, film theaters being rate in the districts. She said a boy from Bankura had pleaded to her for a mall in their town.
Banerjee added that since Bengalis loved to travel, small-time traders were doing brisk business this festive season. The CM pointed out that tourist places, like Darjeeling, Mirik and Kalimpong, as well as Poush Mela and Bishnupur Mela were witnessing high footfall.
About infrastructure in the city, Banerjee said the Kalighat skywalk might be thrown open before the Bengal Business Summit, slated for Feb 5 and 6, 2025. She added the Jaganath temple in Digha would be inaugurated on Jan 30.