shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > News > India News > Article > Scottish university strikes pact for new satellite city in West Bengal

Scottish university strikes pact for new satellite city in West Bengal

Updated on: 17 January,2018 05:46 PM IST  |  Kolkata
PTI |

A Scottish university on Wednesday announced an agreement with the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) to collaborate on a new satellite city in West Bengal

Scottish university strikes pact for new satellite city in West Bengal

A Scottish university on Wednesday announced an agreement with the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) to collaborate on a new satellite city in West Bengal. The agreement will see academics from the Institute for Future Cities (IFC) at University of Strathclyde work with officials at the NKDA on research and the sustainable development of the smart city dubbed New Town Kolkata.


Scottish varsity strikes pact for new satellite city in Bengal

"India will be the world's second-largest source of urban growth in the next 30 years with hundreds of millions more Indians moving to cities. We need to ensure the cities of the future are sustainable both economically and environmentally and are good places to live," said Richard Bellingham, director of IFC.

"New Town Kolkata is a major initiative which is a good match for the skills at the University of Strathclyde, which places an emphasis on 'useful learning'. We want to make a difference; this is the kind of collaboration where our research and expertise can be put into practice in the real
world," he added.

New Town is a rapidly-expanding planned residential and information technology hub to the north-east of Kolkata, covering 11 square miles with a current population of 30,000. Its leaders have a strong interest in deploying and testing innovative solutions that work in a Kolkata context,
the university noted. The Strathclyde researchers will share expertise, data and identify issues for joint action, with a focus on key issues for Kolkata's including sustainable energy, reducing pollution, increasing resilience and optimising transport systems.

The agreement, signed by Bellingham, was exchanged with Debashi Sen, Additional Chief Secretary, IT, West Bengal, by Bruce Bucknell, the British Deputy High Commissioner. Sen noted: "New Town is already approved as one of the 100 smart cities of India. It is also an IT and Educational Hub. It aspires to be a future-ready, green and happy city.

The collaboration with the Institute of Future Cities will help New Town to move in that direction at an accelerating pace." The pact follows a business delegation led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Scotland in November. University of Strathclyde said its agreement with NKDA follows two separate collaboration agreements signed between Strathclyde and Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai and The Energy Research Institute (TERI), Delhi.

The Institute for Future Cities at the University of Strathclyde brings together governments, businesses, academics and citizens to imagine and engage with the future of our cities, and explore how to make cities more successful, healthier, safer and more sustainable for us all.


Catch up on all the latest Mumbai, National and International news here


Download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go

The content/reporting displayed on our website www.mid-day.com is provided "AS-IS," "AS AVAILABLE, by us from third party, agencies, sources, without any verification from our side. It may contain error, bugs and other limitations. The reader's can rely on the content at their own will. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, data, text, images, video, messages, or any other material whatsoever or for any claims/loss/action that the reader may suffer as a result of relying on the content on our site. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK