New Town is a satellite township on the north-eastern fringes of Kolkata and is a fairly successful satellite town. Creating satellite town in India is a way of easing congestion in big cities. The satellite towns have to be appealing for people to go and work and live there. They need to offer a good quality of life, good infrastructure, good education, community programs and good living and working environments. There is a big effort to make these satellite towns smart towns or green towns.
New Town has been created to ease congestion and pollution in Kolkata. By moving offices and factories, work and living space to New Town, Kolkata becomes a better place to be. But what makes New Town a better place to be?
IIT Kharagpur have been asked to find out what works in New Town, what amenities have worked and what have not worked, what people like and do not like about the town. The town is called a ‘happy space’ which means it is a successful satellite town, but it is not yet perfect.
New Town is of interest to both The Kolkata Development Authority and The West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation, and they have asked IIT Kharagpur’s Reki Centre of Excellence to check the happiness index and to help raise the happiness index.
IIT Kharagpur need to know how to improve the quality of life in New Town, not just for New Town residents, but as a benchmark for other cities or towns. By looking at New Town and figuring out what could improve the town, and raise the happiness index, the study could be used to raise the happiness index in other towns.
The duration of the project is going to take place over two years and at the end of the findings the city will be advised on what changes to make, if any, regarding IT management, infrastructure, schooling, roads, pollution, general management, community and lifestyle. The findings are going to improve the lifestyle for all, creating a better community and a happier town.
Unless, New Town is already the happiest town in India. Time will tell.
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