This publication explores the views of stakeholders in the two decades of partnership between the Asian Development Bank and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in India. The Asian Development Bank supported Kolkata's integrated planning and phased investments of over $1 billion towards building resilience, inclusiveness, and improved and sustainable urban services. Essential lessons provided in this publication may be useful for other megacities in the region seeking to become more livable.

This book explores the spatial characteristics of the city of Kolkata in India in terms of the physical, economic, social, political, and environmental aspects of urban geography, and focuses upon the inherent processes that impact its transformation. It discusses different facets of urban geography and highlights the contemporary challenges of a major primate city in South Asia, which represents the conflicts between the traditional and the modern, the rich and the poor, the skyscrapers and the shanties. With its detailed empirical research and mapping exercises based on real-time remote sensing data, the book offers an understanding of a range of contemporary urban issues. It examines the spatial consequences of urban sprawl, land-use changes, ecological crisis, climate change, critical disasters, dynamics of the peri-urban interface, neighborhood restructuring, debates around heritage conservation, housing poverty, gray spaces, governance and the political landscape of the city. This book will be useful to students, teachers, and researchers of geography, especially human geography and urban geography, urban studies, urban development and planning, regional planning, social geography, governance, ecology, economics, and South Asian studies. It will also benefit urban planners, development professionals, and those interested in the study of the city of Kolkata and its transformations.

This book examines the global influence and scope of medical tourism with an emphasis on the city of Kolkata in Eastern India as an emerging destination at the regional scale. Through a geographical research perspective, the book discusses the importance of the phenomenon of medical tourism including recent trends, policies, and scale studies to develop sustainable strategies for medical tourism at particular micro destinations. In nine chapters, readers will become familiar with the multi-billion dollar industry of medical tourism and the problems currently associated with medical tourism at multiple scales. The trends of medical tourism in and around the city of Kolkata are used to demonstrate the roles of infrastructure and stakeholders in implementing feasible and sustainable medical tourism in an emerging destination. The first two chapters of the book provide an introduction to medical tourism and the methodologies of this study. Then chapters three through nine focus on medical tourism in the case of Kolkata to discuss the regional applications and developments of medical tourism. Topics addressed include medical tourism facilities, stakeholders and tourists, guest-host relationships, an assessment of development versus risk, and an evaluation of strategies to manage rising medical tourism in Kolkata. The concluding chapter discusses future strategies that could be used to implement the potentialities of a metropolitan city as a medical tourism destination, based on studies done in Kolkata. Readers who will find this work of interest include students, practitioners, geographers, and researchers and policymakers engaged in the medical tourism industry.

Brimming with information on the cultural corner of India, this Footprintfocus guide will take you from the hill station of Darjeeling to Sunderbans Tiger Reserve.

Kolkata has long been celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, intellectual fervor, and colonial-era architecture. However, there is much more to the city, including socioeconomic disparities, problem of urban migration, and the struggle for survival The journey embarked upon in this book takes us through the crowded, narrow lanes of slums the slums of Kolkata. We navigate through the daily struggles for access to clean water, education, healthcare, and dignified employment. This book is a sociological study that invites readers to explore the nuances of poverty, the impact of urbanization, and the collective efforts to carve out a dignified existence. The data collection process undertaken to write this book are of two types:- a) Secondary data collection b) Primary data collection The primary data are the data’s which is in original from and is directly collected from the field. The secondary data’s are those data that were already collected someone and which may have passed through some statistical process. The secondary data have been collected mainly from Census of India, National Atlas and thematic Mapping Organization, Kolkata Metropolitan Developmental Authority and Kolkata Municipal Corporation etc. As we navigate the intricacies of life within Kolkata's slums, it is essential to recognize the systemic issues that perpetuate these challenges. From inadequate infrastructure to limited access to education and healthcare, the complexities are deeply rooted in broader societal structures.

This comprehensive list of 50 remarkable things to do in Kolkata encompasses the diverse range of experiences awaiting you in this captivating city. From immersing yourself in the rich history and architectural wonders to indulging in the vibrant cultural scene and savoring delectable culinary delights, Kolkata has something to offer every visitor. Embark on a journey through time as you visit iconic landmarks such as the awe-inspiring Victoria Memorial and the magnificent Howrah Bridge. Explore the city's architectural gems, including the serene Dakshineswar Kali Temple, the grand St. Paul's Cathedral, and the enchanting Marble Palace. Each of these sites tells a story of Kolkata's past and showcases its unique blend of colonial and indigenous influences. Delve into Kolkata's thriving cultural scene by strolling down the bustling Park Street, lined with buzzing restaurants, trendy cafes, and iconic theaters. Attend a mesmerizing cultural performance at Rabindra Sadan or immerse yourself in the world of art at the Academy of Fine Arts. Discover the literary side of Kolkata at College Street, a haven for book lovers with its numerous bookstores and intellectual ambiance. No visit to Kolkata is complete without experiencing its delectable cuisine. Indulge in authentic Bengali flavors at renowned restaurants like Oh! Calcutta and sample the city's famous street food, from mouthwatering puchkas (pani puri) to delectable kathi rolls. Kolkata's culinary scene is a delightful fusion of traditional recipes and contemporary influences that will leave your taste buds craving for more. Kolkata invites you to embark on a captivating journey filled with history, culture, and gastronomy. From exploring architectural marvels to immersing yourself in the city's artistic heritage, and from savoring delectable dishes to embracing the warmth of its people, Kolkata promises an unforgettable experience that will leave you with cherished memories for years to come. So, get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of this fascinating city and discover why Kolkata is truly a gem of India's cultural landscape.

This book is the first of its kind offering a materialistic semiotic analysis of a non-Western theatre culture: Bengali group theatre. Arnab Banerji fills two lacunas in contemporary theatre scholarship. First, the materialist semiotic approach to studying a non-Western theatre event allows Banerji to critically examine the material conditions in which theatre is created and seen outside the Euro-American context. And second, by shifting the critical lens onto a contemporary urban theatre phenomenon from India, the book attempts to even out the scholastic imbalance in Indian theatre scholarship which has largely focused on folk and classical traditions. The book shows a refreshing new perspective toward a theatre culture that frequently escapes the critical lens in spite of being one of the largest urban theatre cultures in the world. Theatre events are a sum total of the conditions in which they are built and the conditions in which they are viewed. Studying the event separate from its materialistic beginnings and semiotic effects allow only a partial insight into the performance phenomenon. The materialist semiotic critical framework of this book locates the Bengali group theatre within its performative context and offers a heretofore unexplored insight into this vibrant theatre culture.