During the last Durgapuja,06, I stayed at Kolkata for fifteen days to see how the Calcuttans are observe their most favourite festival. But I had a bitter experience. Every where crowd and crowd. I think Kolkata is going to be a over populated Metro. There are frequently pot holes in all the major roads. No one can drive easily. Moreover all the footpaths have gone to the hawkers. Each and every day hawkers are increasing. I had also experienced that ploicemen are taking 'tola' from the hawkers.Some months before, I had a occassion to visit Kolkata and I stayed at Sealdah area. I saw at that time that some areas of footpath in front of the Dental Hospital are lying vacant. Only one 'Phoochkawala' are selling his phoochka in the evening only. But this time, I found that all the vacant areas of the foothpath in front of the Dental Hospital are full of hawkers. I have also seen that three fastfoodwalas are preparing chau chau & selling in front of a renouned cinema hall in congested footpath with their stove. I never think that in that congested area one can play with fire. One 'Bhajabhujiwala' also selling his bhaja in front the Loreto Day School with his chula. No one is bother about that.
Then I met a research scholar who has come from German. His subject is the 'Problem of the Metros of Asian Countries'. Last he visited Delhi and this time he has come to Kolkata to study the problem of Kolkata. He is staying at Kolkata more than one year. His experience that there is no gurdian of Kolkata city. Policemen are reluctant. It is growing of its own. No one is looking after the affairs of the Kolkata Metro. Lakhs of people of other districts of West Bengal are coming daily to this City for their livelihood but nobody is loveing this city. Some of them are professionals, some are businessman and small traders.A number of students are also coming this city for their study. But they do not bother about this city. Kolkata is the place of their earnings but Kolkata is also a place of their negligence. His experience that, practically Kolkata is one of the heaviest city and at the same time Kolkata most negliest one.
Surprisingly he commented that the Mayor of Kolkata is a top class elite but he does not have any idea about the Metros of other country. He does not bother the necessity of the city dweller. He has also found that the Kolkata is the "City of Hawkers". He has found that the evicted landless farmers of other provinces of India are coming to this city and any how manages policemen and sitting with some products to the footpath though there are no footpath left for them. These people are living in the 'Basti' managing 'Political Dada' in the public places like railway side and any where they like and polluting the environment and damaging the public life.
Actually I also realised that the Kolkata is city of hawkers only hawkers.
