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Is the Hospitality Scenario in Kolkata Changing  for the Better?

Is the Hospitality Scenario in Kolkata Changing for the Better?

With fresh investments coming in, the hospitality sector in the Eastern metropolis of Kolkata has started looking up in the last couple of years. The overall outlook of hospitality scenario in Kolkata at present, and in the future, appears to be bright and hopeful. Kolkata’s Hospitality Landscape: Then and Now  Not long back, the city’s…

How to Beat the Summer Heat at Your Home with a Smile on Your Face

How to Beat the Summer Heat at Your Home with a Smile on Your Face

Our summers are getting hotter with each passing year. This year, it’s all set to be another sizzling and scorching summer with temperatures scaling new records. As such, cities like Kolkata are already feeling the heat, testing 40oC in the early weeks of May. In fact, Kolkata tops the list of 44 most heat-stressed megacities…

How Can Kolkata Go Green and Enjoy Cooler Summers?

How Can Kolkata Go Green and Enjoy Cooler Summers?

“I miss those wonderfully bright mornings,” sighs Tanima Basu, a 40-year school teacher living in Kolkata. “The soothing greenery and the chirping of birds used to be a pleasant start of the day…nowadays, it’s so bleak, so gray!” complains the Beliaghata resident. Unfortunately, she is not alone in experiencing this. The city’s ‘green cover’ is…

Is Kolkata Still the Cultural Capital of India?

Is Kolkata Still the Cultural Capital of India?

Think of Kolkata, and the frames that pop up are of trams, yellow taxis, the majestic Howrah Bridge, and the vibrant cultural diversity of the city soaked in music, art, literature, theatre, the ‘adda’ culture — and Kolkata’s very own, Durga Puja. No wonder, the city of joy has earned the title of ‘The Cultural…

Are There Enough Income Opportunities in Kolkata for the Young?

Are There Enough Income Opportunities in Kolkata for the Young?

Bengal, once a front-runner in India’s industrial movement, has been lagging behind the rapidly industrializing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. This is primarily due to a sharp decline in the industrial index, as evident from government reports that indicate a free fall in manufacturing from 11.5% in 1980-81 to 2.9% in 2007-08. Of…

Is the Spread of Shopping Malls in Kolkata Making Residents Fashion-Savvy?

Is the Spread of Shopping Malls in Kolkata Making Residents Fashion-Savvy?

Till a few years ago, Kolkata was not seen as a fashion conscious city. Except for the city women, who always had an eye for gorgeous sarees, Kolkata didn’t put a premium on looking good. Not any longer. A major factor which made the Kolkatans far more fashion conscious is the spread of shopping malls…

EM Bypass Gariahat Connector — the New Food Street of Kolkata

EM Bypass Gariahat Connector — the New Food Street of Kolkata

Ask anyone even remotely acquainted with Kolkata’s food culture — “which is the ‘food street’ of the city?” And it’s almost certain that they’ll say “Park Street”. From the humble “bread and stew” at the local street stall to the succulent sizzlers and continental cuisines at the fine dining restaurants, Park Street has it all. No…

Time to Think of Rooftop Solar Panels on Buildings in Kolkata?

Time to Think of Rooftop Solar Panels on Buildings in Kolkata?

When Kolkata-based banker, Nilesh Gupta went to visit his cousin in Bengaluru, it was interesting (as well as inspiring) to see them living a ‘green’ lifestyle. Their home was powered by solar panels, which produced enough energy to meet his small family’s needs. What he really wondered was, can this be feasible in the real…

Is It Time to Consider Better Measures to Control Air Pollution in Kolkata?

Is It Time to Consider Better Measures to Control Air Pollution in Kolkata?

If you go up on a high building in Kolkata and look down on the glittering lights of the street below, you can see an engulfing gray haze, especially in the winter months. Although Kolkata has become much cleaner in last few years, particularly with an efficient waste management system in place, it is high…