Latest news with #Kolkatans
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Kolkata beats other metros, reports more than 50% of good air days in 4 years: CSE study
KOLKATA: The city has taken the top spot with the best air quality among six key Indian metros, a study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed. Kolkata witnessed 791 days - over 50% of the total 1,550 days assessed - of 'very good' and 'satisfact-ory' air quality, highest among the metros. The findings, part of CSE's State of India's Environment in Figures 2025, analysed air quality data from Jan 1, 2021 to March 31, 2025. According to the study, Kolkata reported 368 days of 'very good' air and 423 days of 'satisfactory' air during this period. While only 231 days of 'moderate' air was recorded in the city, not a single day was reported in the 'severe' category. With fewer 'poor' and 'very poor' air quality days - 513 and 15 respectively - Kolkatans faced limited exposure to harmful pollution levels, which in turn meant better health, the analysis highlighted. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Delhi remained the most polluted metro during the study period, with 396 'moderate', 265 'poor' and 62 'very poor' air quality days. Significantly, the national capital's 284 'severe' air days was in sharp contrast to Kolkata's nil, an indication of the former's prolonged hazardous pollution levels. "Kolkata's success story is a result of several key policy decisions by PCB and their effective implementation by the local bodies," said West Bengal Pollution Control Board chairman Kalyan Rudra. "Using sprinklers to prevent dust-resuspension, deploying fire tenders at landfills, biomining of garbage heaps, shifting to clean fuel, use of smokeless chullah by food vendors and urban and rural poor have all been crucial in improving the city's air quality," he added. Rudra, however, cautioned that significant challenges remained in reducing emissions further. ' Clean Air project helps Kol improve AQI management ' Anumita Roychowdhury, an air quality expert with CSE, said the Centre's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) helped track pollution levels and undertake remedial measures. Under the NCAP monitoring and compliance system, cities report their progress on the Central Pollution Control Board's PRANA portal, every quarter, defining the scope of action, setting targets to reduce pollution and indicating funding. "The performance-linked NCAP framework helped lay the foundations of national air quality management in non-attainment cities, such as Kolkata," said Roychowdhury. Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai recorded a high number of 'poor' AQI days, but dodged 'very poor' or 'severe' days, owing to their locations, weather and pollution sources. Air pollution in southern metros is primarily driven by vehicular emissions, dust and industrial activities. Mumbai presented a hybrid pattern. The city saw 145 'very good', 637 'satisfactory', 118 'moderate' and 649 'poor' AQI days. It largely stayed clear of 'very poor' and 'severe' levels, recording only one 'very poor' day and zero 'severe' days.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Cal Club win to add spring in step for swish set's gender parity march
1 2 Kolkata: A day after winning the president's election, Calcutta Club's first woman president Kasturi Raha is still soaking in the congratulatory messages both for herself and her gender. But for most other colonial-era social clubs in the city, complete gender parity is still some distance away. In other premier social clubs, such as Bengal Club, Tolly Club, RCGC, RCTC, Calcutta Rowing Club and CCFC, no woman has ever led the club or contested for the top post, according to members. At most of the premier clubs, women's representation in the committee is either low or non-existent. The proportion of women to the total number of members is below 20% at most clubs. Raha told TOI it was a historical win. "Calcutta Club will have its first woman president in 117 years. To become the president of this club in itself is an achievement. I could not have achieved this without the support of the members who were present there and voted for me. I also had the blessings of those who were not present," she said. At Calcutta Club, the total number of members is 3,850, among whom less than 300 are women. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Undo Gautam Roy, a senior member of Calcutta Club, called the 2025 election a "landmark" one. "This time, not only was a woman elected president at the club but there was also another woman in the committee, Anusua Das, who received the maximum number of votes," he said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The club circuit has been witnessing a slow change over the past few years. While the 150-year-old Saturday Club had its first and only woman president almost 18 years ago, Dalhousie Institute elected its first and only woman president in 2015. Congratulating Raha on her achievement, DI's immediate past president Jayajit Biswas, said, "At Dalhousie Institute, we are especially delighted, having had the distinction of electing Denise Smith as the first woman president in 2015. We currently have four dynamic women on our council." Recalling her days as DI president, Smith said, "It was an honour to be the first woman president of the 165-year-old DI. There were so many illustrious Kolkatans who were DI presidents before me. The progressive spirit embodies our club—from women empowerment to strong cosmopolitan credentials, to quizzing to jazz and more." Welcoming the development at Calcutta Club, the immediate past president of Bengal Club, Sumit Ray, pointed out they, too, were looking at a woman president in the next few years. "We now have two women in our committee. We don't have any election at our club. Here, a member becomes a president on seniority basis. So at one point, a woman will become a president," he said, adding several women had joined the club the past couple of years. "We are now very gender equal," he added. The CEO of Tolly Club, V Ganapathy, and former Tolly president Aniruddha Lahiri lauded the election result at Calcutta Club. "I am really happy Calcutta Club has chosen a woman to lead the club affairs," Ganapathy said. The steward of RCTC and six-time president of South Club, Enrico Piperno, who was also a leading tennis player, pointed out that if a woman could lead a country why not a club. "At RCTC, Smita Bajoria served on the committee for a long time. But historically, RCTC being a racing club, the number of male members is much more," he said. RCGC captain Gaurav Ghosh said, "Unlike many other clubs, we at RCGC, have had woman members for over 40 years." Calcutta Rowing Club secretary Chandan Roychowdhury described Raha's win as a great example of women's empowerment. "CRC is perhaps the only club that has had woman members since inception," he pointed out. Rishabh C Kothari, the president of Hindusthan Club, said it was heartening to see a woman elected to the leadership position at Calcutta Club. "Several clubs in Kolkata, including Hindusthan Club, have witnessed a generational shift in recent years with fresh teams and new ideas coming in. This change is a welcome step towards meeting the aspirations of a younger generation and reflects a growing commitment to inclusivity and gender diversity in club leadership," said Kothari, who is also a member of Calcutta Swimming Club and Bengal Rowing Club.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
From ‘dum' to diet: Your biryani is less unhealthy now
1 2 K olkata: With biryani sales zooming across Kolkata's restaurants, the latter are now scurrying to make it 'healthy' to get more people to bypass diet restrictions and savour it. While a leading biryani chain launched a 'diabetic-friendly' biryani rustled up with help from dieticians, several others are restricting the use of oil, sugar, and spices and using special rice to make 'healthy' biryani. Oudh 1590 on Wednesday launched a 'diabetic-friendly' biryani made with parboiled rice, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and soya bean chunks. Curated by dietician and nutritionist Nidhi Prakash, it is low on sugar, saturated fat, and cholesterol content, Prakash claimed. Other than diabetics, it will also allow Kolkata's growing health-conscious population to enjoy rich Awadhi flavours with mindful nutrition, said Shiladitya Chaudhury, owner and co-founder of Oudh 1590. "In Bengal, rice is the staple food and people love biryani. Usually, biryani is made with white rice, potato, chicken/mutton, oil, and spices. The idea of preparing diabetic biryani came to me some six months ago and I started working on it, reducing the glycemic index and load of white rice-based biryani. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like IQ Worldwide - Test your Intelligence, know your IQ Score Try Now Undo I decided to use parboiled rice and replaced potato with sweet potato. Veg biryani was made using soya chunks and lots of vegetables. With such modifications, diabetics can enjoy this biryani without significantly impacting their blood sugar level," said Prakash. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Aminia has launched a 'diet biryani' that uses fewer spices and sugar. "We started customizing biryani for those who have diet restrictions. We deliver bulk orders with this specially made biryani that also has less rice and more vegetables. At all our outlets, we customize biryani for those who want it made in a special way. It takes a little longer to prepare though," said Kabir Azhar of Aminia. At Riyasat, the Mughlai outlet of Specialty Restaurants, biryani is made using the 'sous vide' method in which ingredients are vacuum-sealed in a bag and cooked in a controlled, low-temperature water bath. "We use pure ghee which has low-fat content, mild spices including real jafran, and ensure minimalistic use of oil with good LDL that cuts out the unhealthy aspect of biryani. Then, we cook our meat in the sous vide method using very little oil so that we don't have to fry it," said Anjan Chatterjee, founder & MD, Specialty Restaurants. Easy availability and the fact that it's a rice-based dish have led Kolkatans to fall for biryani in a big way, said Hotel and Restaurants' Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) president Sudesh Poddar. "We started keeping a watch on ingredients since more elderly people now have it and often want it to be less oily," said Poddar, also the owner of Songhai and Manthan. "At Oudh 1590, we believe fine dining should be inclusive and conscious. There are many who crave biryani but have health issues. Now, they can savour our authentic Awadhi cuisine with a healthy twist to our much-loved biryanis," said Chaudhury.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Table for one? Yes, say Kolkata youngsters embracing solo dates
Gone are the days when stepping out solo raised eyebrows. Today, more young Kolkatans are embracing the freedom of solo dates – from cafés and cinemas to city strolls. We speak to the city's solo daters who say it's not just about confidence; it's a personal power move. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rediscovering the city, one solo date at a time For many youngsters, solo dating didn't start with a plan; it began when life hit a pause. Friends moved away, relationships ended, and social plans fell through. Influencer Sneha Sarkar recalls, 'All my friends were out of town, so I thought, why not spend time with myself? It felt liberating.' Marketing professional Dhruti Sharma adds, 'It was awkward at first – to place an order and sit alone – but slowly, I started enjoying the solitude. ' For lawyer Ananrita De, it was a conscious decision. 'A date can be just you and your thoughts – no romance required.' 'Don't care about what people think; it's about me, not them' Once seen as unusual, going solo no longer draws as many stares. 'Solo dates used to feel odd, but I realised it was all in my head. People don't care as much as we think they do,' says Dhruti. Sayan Chakraborty, a banker, agrees: 'You don't have to care about what people think. Just go out and explore. That's how it starts.' The main takeway? The discomfort fades with time, so take the first step. Cafés, culture, and confidence For many, solo dates are now about reflection, rest, and quiet indulgence. Kolkata's café-lined streets, riverside spots, and cultural corners offer ample escapes. From Ballygunge to Salt Lake, rooftop cafés and cosy nooks are drawing solo-goers with their ambient music, warm service, and the welcome absence of social pressure. While some enjoy bustling spots to people-watch, others, like lawyer Ananrita De, seek more soulful escapes – boat rides on the Ganges, theatre shows, museums, and even indulging in delicious food. Popular solo date spots: Quaint cafés near city parks with outdoor seating Independent bookstores with reading nooks and coffee counters Matinee shows at less-crowded cinema halls Art galleries or cultural centres Boutique stores & pop-up markets Scenic walking stretches like lakesides or botanical gardens Rooftop eateries with panoramic city views Libraries and work-friendly cafés Boat rides along the Ganges during the golden hour Museum visits, theatre performances, or live gigs Solo dating allows me time for myself. Everyone should have their space, be it with or without a companion – Dhruti Sharma, marketing professional Be it planned or spontaneous, don't doubt yourself. You can be good company for yourself – Ananrita De, lawyer
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Adani Group to restore, beautify Kumartuli Ghat
Kolkata: Adani Group is set to develop the historic Kumartuli Ghat. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) for the redevelopment, restoration and beautification of the ghat. An official of KpT pointed out that the agreement, signed at the SMPK head office, marks a significant partnership with the private sector to rejuvenate a cultural and heritage-rich location along the Hooghly river. As part of this MoU, the Kumartuli Ghat — known for its legacy in traditional idol-making — will undergo heritage-compliant redevelopment and beautification, with focus on environmental sustainability and cultural sensitivity. An official of Adani Group said that the redevelopment project was part of the CSR initiative of Adani Port. "This is the first time we will redevelop a ghat along the Ganges," the official added. He added that architect Anjan Mitra has been appointed for planning the redevelopment. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Rathendra Raman, chairman, SMP Kolkata, Subrat Tripathy, president, business development, APSEZ Ltd, and Sanjay K Thade, consultant, APSEZ, were present during the MoU signing. Raman said, "Kumartuli Ghat is not just a site, it is a living legacy of Bengal's artistic soul. Through this partnership with Adani Ports, we are not only restoring a physical structure but also reviving a space deeply woven into Kolkata's cultural fabric. This initiative is a proud moment in our Swachhata drive, where heritage meets modern civic responsibility." He added, "We deeply appreciate Adani Ports' commitment to this vision. Their contribution will be visibly acknowledged at the ghat, reminding all visitors of what collaborative action can achieve." Tripathy said that taking responsibility to renovate a heritage ghat like Kumartuli, which has emotional connect with Kolkatans, was an honour for them. KpT officials added that the restoration effort will not only preserve the heritage architecture of the ghat but will also make it cleaner, safer, and more welcoming to artisans, locals and tourists alike, thus giving a fresh lease of life to one of Kolkata's most iconic waterfronts.
