Todays News

  In a landmark decision that reshapes the heart of Kolkata, the Indian Army has officially approved the relocation of the historic Esplanade Bus Stand. This move marks a significant development in the city's long-standing urban modernization plan, paving the way for improved traffic management, enhanced security around military installations, and revitalized public spaces. The Esplanade Bus Stand, located near the iconic Fort William and under the Army's jurisdiction, has long been a bustling transit hub connecting the city with its suburbs and beyond. However, over the years, the increasing traffic congestion and security concerns have prompted authorities to rethink its location. The Army's nod comes after years of negotiation and planning between the West Bengal government, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), and military officials. According to officials, the bus stand will be relocated to a more suitable site that can accommodate the growing volume of buses and pas...

  Date: June 2025 Location: Girish Park, Kolkata 🔐 When Trust Turns to Theft: Kolkata’s Shocking Gold Scam In a startling case that has rattled the local jewelry industry, a reputed jewelry firm in Girish Park, North Kolkata , has reported a major internal theft worth ₹1.6 crore . The perpetrators? Allegedly, two of the firm’s own trusted employees who manipulated both digital and manual records to siphon off 1.6 kilograms of gold ornaments . 🚨 The Incident: Silent but Systematic The co-owner of the firm lodged a complaint at Girish Park police station earlier this week, revealing discrepancies in the company’s inventory and accounting records. Upon a closer audit, it was discovered that the employees had been: Altering digital database entries to mask real stock levels Modifying physical stock registers to match fake counts Diverting gold ornaments over a prolonged period, possibly months Police have already launched an investigation and detained the two employees for que...

  Date: June 2025 Location: Kolkata, West Bengal ☕️ Brewing Trouble: Iran-Israel Conflict Stalls Tea Shipments A geopolitical flare-up in the Middle East is having ripple effects thousands of miles away in Kolkata. The Iran-Israel conflict has triggered a halt in Indian tea exports to Iran, leading to a mounting backlog of tea consignments at Kolkata Port and Mumbai's Nhava Sheva Port . 🍵 Why Iran Matters to India’s Tea Trade Iran is India's second-largest buyer of tea , accounting for over 15% of India’s annual tea exports . The disruption has severely affected producers in Assam and West Bengal , who rely on the Iran market to offload premium orthodox tea varieties. "Payments and shipments have come to a standstill. With the Gulf crisis escalating, containers are piling up with no assurance on customs clearance," said a leading Kolkata-based exporter. 📊 The Numbers Tell the Story 15% drop in exports projected for Q2 2025 if tensions persist Over 500 contain...

  Date: June 2025 Location: Kolkata, West Bengal 🛡️ Kolkata to Host Dedicated Cybercrime Stations Across All Divisions Kolkata Police has announced a transformative move to establish dedicated cybercrime police stations in all 10 city divisions , marking a significant shift from a centralized digital policing system to a localized, citizen-friendly approach. Currently, victims of cyber fraud are forced to approach the Lalbazar cybercrime station or navigate bureaucratic complexities via divisional support units. This overhaul ensures victims can now lodge complaints, initiate investigations, and follow up on case progress directly within their local division . 📊 The Data Driving the Decision Kolkata's only cybercrime station at Lalbazar received 220-222 cases annually in 2021 and 2022 , dropping slightly to 162 in 2023 . Yet, 498 cases remained unsolved as of mid-2024 , reflecting workload pressure and investigative bottlenecks. A surge in fraud methods—from work-from-home s...

  Location: Kolkata & South Bengal 1. What’s Brewing in the Sky? Meteorologists from the Alipore Regional Meteorological Centre are closely tracking two key developments: A trough stretching from Rajasthan–Meghalaya that’s expected to shift into South Bengal by Sunday A cyclonic circulation/low-pressure area over South Bihar and Gangetic Bengal A third system—a potential low-pressure over the Bay—that may form mid-week timesofindia.indiatimes.com +1 timesofindia.indiatimes.com +1 telegraphindia.com +1 timesofindia.indiatimes.com +1 en.wikipedia.org +4 en.wikipedia.org +4 timesofindia.indiatimes.com +4 nationalheraldindia.com +1 timesofindia.indiatimes.com +1 Together, these systems are set to deliver enhanced thunderstorms and heavier rainfall across Kolkata and surrounding districts. 2. What the Data Reveals Rain patterns so far : A light 12.2 mm rain narrowed temperature swings—down to a min of 25.7 °C and a max of just 27.7 °C  Expected changes : Mo...

  Date: June 11–28, 2025 Venues: Men's matches at Eden Gardens, Women’s fixtures at Jadavpur University, Salt Lake Campus Ground. 1. A Spectacular Opening Night The league’s second edition was launched on June 11 at the iconic Eden Gardens , featuring a dazzling opening ceremony headlined by Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan —an extravaganza befitting “Six ho ya Four, Bengal korbe Roar!” . The first men's match saw Sobisco Smashers Malda vs Murshidabad Kings , kicking off the twenty-day cricketing fiesta . 2. Format & Teams: Showcasing Local Talent Eight men's teams compete in round-robin league action, with the top four advancing to semis and finals . Simultaneously, the women’s tournament —also featuring eight teams—runs in morning-afternoon double headers, offering regional players a strong platform . Teams like Kolkata Tigers , Howrah Warriors , Silguri Strikers , and Harbour Diamonds represent the state's diverse cricketing districts . 3. Com...

  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...