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Time of India
12-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kolkata restaurants prepare for festive season with special menus and events
1 2 Kolkata: With Independence Day approaching and the city gradually embracing the festive spirit, Kolkata's restaurants are preparing to delight patrons with a variety of food, music, and celebrations. Restaurant owners anticipate a significant increase in footfall during the upcoming weekend, which begins on Friday, Aug 15. Some establishments are organising food festivals and introducing new dishes, while others aim to attract food enthusiasts with live music, special offers, and complimentary items such as free drinks during cricket matches scheduled ahead of the pujas and the festival period. Chapter 2 in South Kolkata is presenting 'a slice of Goa' with its 'Goan Catholic Food Festival', which began on Monday and will continue for at least three weeks. The menu has been curated by Maria Fernandes, vice-chairperson of WBFDC, to showcase the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Goa. "Other than the gastronomic delights, it will also be about a cultural immersion and memorable moments. There will be an accent on Goan music as our live performers play songs from the state. Our staff will be dressed in Goan attire. The food will be a mix of Goan Catholic dishes as well as 'Saraswat' cuisine, which is basically Konkanee food. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NRIs Living In Ukraine Are Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension. Invest 18K/Month Get Offer Undo Kolkatans will love it as much as they love visiting Goa," stated Chapter 2 co-founder and owner Shiladitya Chaudhury. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in Kolkata Songhai and MS Bar & Lounge in central Kolkata will offer specially curated North Indian and Chinese dishes leading up to the pujas in September-end. "We will add a few special kebabs and Chinese platters in the next few weeks, with an eye on the puja crowd as well as the ensuing Asia Cup next month. Footfalls have started picking up and it should rise fast from the Independence Day weekend, which should be a big one," said owner Sudesh Poddar, also the president of the Hotel and Restaurants' Owners Association of Eastern India (HRAEI). Footfalls have begun increasing in some Park Street restaurants. "We had a bigger waiting crowd this weekend and the coming one should be even better. The city is getting into the festive spirit," remarked Nitin Kothari, owner of Mocambo and Peter Cat. Oasis on Park Street has introduced a pre-puja menu that includes a Hilsa platter and new kebabs. "This weekend should be the turning point and see a steep footfall rise after a lull. As people start venturing out for puja shopping, the crowd should swell. Also, the month of Shravan is coming to an end when many prefer vegetarian food. Though Aug 15 is a dry day, there will be families out for a meal," commented owner Pratap Daryanani. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Popular riverfront turns into haven for anti-social elements
PUNE: The ₹4,700-crore Riverfront Development (RFD) project on 44.4-km stretches along the banks of the Mula-Mutha river is no longer the vibrant space for recreation and relaxation, as portrayed by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Popular riverfront turns into haven for anti-social elements Designed to make the riverfront a cultural and recreational landmark for citizens and tourists - with landscaped promenades, cycling tracks, open-air theatres, wellness zones, and gardens - some stretches of the riverfront, however, present a sorry picture, rather than a picturesque one. These stretches, between Yerawada and Kalyaninagar, have turned into a haven for drug and alcohol dealers and users. Security lapses and absence of regular patrolling have turned these parts of the riverbed into unsafe zones, undermining the very goal of the project to create an inclusive and secure public space. Residents and civic activists say immediate, coordinated action is essential if the RFD is to live up to its promise. A three-hour ground visit by Hindustan Times near the Yerawada Bridge revealed widespread neglect. Trash was scattered along the riverbank, and groups of young men were seen openly taking drugs and drinking alcohol, taking advantage of the absence of any law enforcement presence. 'There is zero security here. We need CCTV surveillance, emergency response boxes, night vision cameras, and drone patrolling,' said Rajesh Pardeshi, a civic activist from Yerawada. 'Despite hundreds of crores being spent, the area remains vulnerable to vandalism, graffiti, open urination, and substance abuse. Authorities must act before it's too late.' Maria Fernandes, a Bund Garden resident, highlighted concerns over women's safety. 'The riverbed is beautiful, but I wouldn't go there alone, neither after dark nor in the afternoon. There's no lighting or visible police presence. It's unsafe for women and children. If the government wants to promote this as a public space, safety has to come first.' Taking note of these concerns, ACP (IT) Vivek Pawar of Pune City Police promised that the RFD stretches would be included in the city's surveillance grid. 'We will integrate the RFD areas into our CCTV system. Vulnerable locations will be monitored and strict action will be taken against anti-social elements. Citizen safety is our top priority,' he said. Civic officials, too, said that steps are being taken to improve monitoring and control accessibility. 'We are building a fencing wall and finalising land acquisition for regulated entry and exit points,' said Bipin Shinde, executive engineer, RFD. 'We've also asked the local police to deploy beat marshals. These are part of our long-term plans to ensure security on the riverfront.'
