The dark side of Park Street

Updated on: Thursday, December 03, 2009

Kolkata: A survey conducted by a group of IIM-Calcutta students reveals that Park Street needs a makeover in terms of its looks to match Bangalore’s Brigade Street or Delhi’s Connaught Place. Even though it dresses up during the Christmas-New Year period, the road lacks the merry, green and vibrant look that it deserves, says the study.

Carried out by a group of 28 students, including 18 foreign students, the study was a part of the IIM-C curriculum. It analyzed the land-use pattern, shops, restaurants, parking facilities, commercial activities, business establishments, pollution and the greenery of Park Street. Among the 50-plus recommendations put forward by the group is a suggestion to relocate the dozen banks on the road. Since they close down after 6 pm, a major part of the road plunges into darkness and robs Park Street of the colour befitting of an entertainment hub, says the IIM-C report.

“We have 12 nationalized banks on the road. They neutralize the brightness that the restaurants provide. So, they should be shifted to the first floors of the buildings they are housed in or to the bylanes. We could have shops or business establishments with more lights that will give the place a brighter look in the evening. Once you cross the restaurants, the greater part of the road is, in fact, poorly lit,” said Samir Joshi, one of the IIM-C students who did the study. Divided into six groups, the students included several from Italy, France and Denmark.

The study suggests that contrary to popular notion, Park Street is not a happy-looking place or inviting enough. It was possible to eke out more parking space on the road, it has been pointed out. Depending on the width of the pavement, parking could be allowed on the sidewalks, it was said. “This will encourage more people to visit Park Street where parking is a perennial problem,” said Rahul Sethia, another student.

On greenery, the study says the road needs more trees but of the smaller variety. Taller ones were obstructing vision and could turn out to be hazardous for traffic. “Considering the volume of traffic that Park Street has, the number of trees will never be enough to curb pollution. The Maidan will have to serve as an absorbent for the emission that is generated at Park Street. So, trees are largely a decoration on the road. But we need more greenery and probably another park even if it is a small one, added Joshi.

Spark — an NGO working for the rejuvenation of Park Street — plans to implement the recommendations. It has already renovated the Allen Park — the only patch of green on the road. “The suggestions are extremely useful. They have suggested minor alterations that can make a big difference. More importantly, these recommendations are highly implementable and we will take them up,” said Monica Bharghav of Spark.

A US-based school of design has been roped in to design a landscape for Park Street. “We shall pass on the recommendations to experts from the school for a blue print that incorporates the new ideas,” added Bharghav.

The dark side of Park Street

More Education news