At the end of the day

  Location: Kolkata 1. Final Stretch to the Airport The much-anticipated Yellow Line of Kolkata Metro—running between Noapara and Barasat , with a key segment linking to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport —is now awaiting the final green light from the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) for the 7 km Noapara–Airport stretch, which is poised for inauguration . 2. Completed Trial Runs & Technical Readiness A full trial run for the Noapara–Jai Hind Biman Bandar (airport) stretch succeeded in January 2025, passing tests for track, third-rail, signaling systems, and station functionalities . With technical compliance confirmed, only CRS approval and minor finishing touches remain before commercial operations can begin. 3. Seamless Inter-Line Connectivity Noapara becomes a major interchange hub, linking the Blue Line (North-South) with the new Yellow Line . A strategically constructed underground joining point , approximately 400 m before the airport...

Date: June 21, 2025 Location: Jadavpur University, Kolkata 1. What the Court Directed On June 19, a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court—comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De—ordered Jadavpur University (JU) to convene an Executive Council meeting within four weeks to address long-overdue campus security measures, especially the installation of CCTV cameras . The Court acknowledged administrative delays linked to the absence of a permanent Vice-Chancellor and urged the release of pending state funds to act promptly . 2. Why It Matters Security Vacuum : JU has lacked a permanent VC since March 2025, relying on an acting Pro‑VC. Security upgrades have stalled amid administrative bottlenecks . Safety Concerns : A PIL highlighted incidents—such as damage to a minister's vehicle and student unrest—underscoring the need for surveillance and policing . Funding Holdups : The Court demanded grievance-free disbursal of government grants to enable the university ...

  Location: Kolkata 1. Riding the Rail Renaissance Kolkata Metro is ushering in a major shift: two advanced Zhuzhou-made Chinese rakes recently arrived, assembled at Chennai’s Perambur ICF, set to bolster struggling Purple and Orange corridors . These join the fleet of indigenous Medha and older Dalian rakes to support the city’s 61 km rapid transit network. 2. Why the New Rakes Matter Energy‐efficient & eco‑smart: Equipped with VVVF propulsion, regenerative braking, and modern safety systems . Commuter-friendly features: Upcoming Dalian rakes include wider evacuation doors, CCTV, wheelchair zones, and enhanced AC comfort . Alleviating shortages: Purple and Orange lines are strained—running with just 2–3 rakes, causing frequent disruptions. The new fleet brings much-needed backup and reliability . 3. Fleet Strengthening Plans Metro Railway plans to induct over 130 new rakes by 2026 —comprising Chinese (Dalian & Zhuzhou) and Indian-made (Medha, BHEL,...

  Location: Salt Lake (STPI IT Park), Kolkata 1. A Major Tech Win for Bengal GlobalFoundries, the US-headquartered semiconductor powerhouse, has confirmed plans to establish a fab‑less design and testing centre in Kolkata’s STPI IT complex, located in Salt Lake’s Power Centre—spanning roughly 19,000 sq ft , granted by the state government . This marks a major stride in elevating Kolkata’s status within India's high-technology ecosystem. 2. From Design to Potential Fabrication Although initially a design-and-test facility, there are active discussions about eventual chip fabrication in Bengal, positioning Kolkata on the semiconductor map . Meanwhile, the tech setup includes a joinery of expertise from GlobalFoundries and Tagore Technology’s GaN (gallium nitride) circuit specialists—forming what GF dubs its “Kolkata Power Centre” . 3. GaN Tech—A Strategic Frontier The Kolkata Power Centre isn't just any R&D hub—it’s specialized in GaN chips , vital for advanced power el...

  Location: South Kolkata, Kolkata 1. A ₹3,250 Crore Deal in the Heart of South Kolkata Global private equity powerhouse Blackstone has officially acquired South City Mall for a staggering ₹3,250 crore —equivalent to approximately $400 million . This transaction—handled by transaction advisor ANAROCK —marks one of the most significant retail property deals in Eastern India . 2. Why South City Mall? Key Stats Size & Scale : Spanning over 1 million sq ft of gross leasable area, it features 150+ stores , a large food court , multiplex cinemas including INOX and IMAX , and parking for around 1,250 cars . Footfall & Turnover : Averaging 55,000–60,000 daily visitors—with 75,000–200,000 on weekends or during festivities—it records an annual turnover of ₹1,800+ crore . 3. What This Means for Blackstone Deepening India Retail Portfolio : Already one of India’s largest commercial property investors, Blackstone bolsters its retail footprint in Kolkata through this crow...

  1. After the Heat, Relief at Last Kolkata’s long-awaited monsoon has finally arrived in full force. Heavy rains swept across the city starting today, as forecasted, bringing much‑needed respite from the previous heatwave. Experts link this onset to a strong cloud mass and cyclonic pattern streaming in from the Bay of Bengal . 2. Immediate Impacts on the City Heavy Showers : The IMD has issued orange alerts for heavy rainfall across South Bengal—including Kolkata—for June 17–18, with possible thunder and wind speeds around 30–40 km/h . Urban Response : In preparation, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and NKDA have ramped up operations—checking pumps, clearing drains, and stationing sewer-cleaning teams to stay ahead of waterlogging . 3. A Week of Rain Ahead Meteorologists expect the downpours to persist through midweek into Sunday, with cycles of intermittent and occasional heavy showers. Temperatures will remain in the lower 30s °C but humidity will rise, making the we...

  🎯 A Global Financial Dialogue in Kolkata Today, EIILM-Kolkata, in collaboration with the Indian Accounting Association Research Foundation (IAARF), inaugurated an International Conference on “Recent Trends in Global Finance: The Economic Triangle (USA, Europe & Asia)” . This landmark event gathers academicians, corporate leaders, and policy thinkers from across three continents to discuss major shifts in global financial dynamics. 🌐 Key Themes & Agenda Global Realignment: Examining how financial power is redistributing among the US, Europe, and Asia amid changing global alliances . AI in Finance: Featuring panel discussions such as “Unleashing the Power of Agentic AI in Finance: A Paradigm Shift.” Sustainability & Climate Economics: Highlighting the economics of climate change and pathways to sustainable finance . India's Role: Debating India's emergence as a manufacturing powerhouse and key consumer market reshaping global fund flows . 🗣️ D...

Date: June 16, 2025 Location: Khidirpur (Kidderpore), Kolkata, West Bengal The Blaze In the early hours of June 16, around 1–2 AM , a massive fire erupted in the heart of Kolkata’s Khidirpur marketplace, swiftly engulfing scores of shops. Officials say more than 1,300 stalls were consumed by the flames . While later estimates from video sources suggest at least 400 shops were gutted , eyewitnesses and authorities largely agree the devastation was enormous. Firefighting Efforts 20 fire tenders were dispatched swiftly from stations including Watganj and Garden Reach. Firefighters faced a critical challenge: locating and dousing dozens of “hidden pockets” of fire within the dense, maze-like marketplace . They resorted to pumping water directly from the Ganges when initial tenders reportedly arrived under-equipped . By midday, firefighters largely contained the inferno, though residual smoldering hotspots remained. Casualties & Damage Miraculously, no casualties have ...