KOLKATA: The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has decided to install water meters
in Rajarhat New Town before ensuring the drinking water supply. Talk of
putting the cart before the horse. It has also decided to introduce day
and night parking fees in the township.

NKDA officials say they
are setting up water meters in all commercial, residential and
institutional buildings to check how much water is being consumed and
how much wasted. “The meters will be installed to check the flow of
water. It will take some time for the process to be completed,” said
Hidco chairman-cum-managing director Debashis Sen. The authority will
maintain and operate the water meters.

This will help them
calculate how much water the township will need. NKDA is supplying
underground water to residential and commercial complexes now and is yet
to start a piped supply system. A 120-million-gallon-per-day water
treatment plant is coming up in Rajarhat which will take water from the
Ganga, treat it and supply it to the entire township through
70-inch-wide pipelines. Neighbouring Salt Lake and areas of South Dum Dum municipality will also get water from this treatment plant.

The officials want to streamline the parking of vehicles in New Town.
They have observed that a large number of vehicles enter the township
daily and are parked haphazardly on the roadsides all day. This often
inconveniences residents. NKDA has decided to introduce parking fees in
New Town, which will not only bring order to the parking system but also
generate revenue. The car parking zones will be earmarked by Hidco and
NKDA. All vehicles will have to pay the fee.

There will be
different rates for day and night parking. During the day, it’s Rs 5 per
hour for two-wheelers, Rs 10 for cars and vans and Rs 20 for
mini-buses, buses and trucks. The monthly day parking fees for
two-wheelers will be Rs 600, for cars and vans Rs 1,200 and for heavier
vehicles Rs 1,500.

Night parking rates (10pm to 7am) will be
higher. – Rs 10 per hour for two-wheelers, Rs 30 for cars and vans and
Rs 60 for mini-buses, buses and trucks. The monthly rate will be Rs
1,000 for two-wheelers, Rs 600 for cars and vans and Rs 1,200 for
heavier vehicles.