When was the last time you visited Nalban? Can’t even remember? Here is a compelling reason to do so soon. The State Fisheries Development Corporation (SFDC), that owns the property, plans to give it a facelift and add fun activities and facilities, ranging from sports to food. 

The first phase of Nalban — called Nalban Boating Complex — had opened in the late 1990s, next to Nicco Park and by the banks of a bheri measuring 165.40 hectares. The second phase — Nalban Food Park — opened in 2005 opposite Sector V’s SDF building. This one has a restaurant and bar, besides lawns and halls that host meetings and parties.  

Nalban Boating Complex was a favourite haunt for couples and a popular venue for wedding ceremonies till a court case shut it down in 2013. The complex was being run as a joint venture between the SFDC and a private party but the Trinamul Congress government terminated its lease to them, stating that the private limited company illegally had 51 per cent stake and was indulging in financial malpractices. Thereafter, the private party filed a case against the government and the park got taken over by the directorate of fisheries.

The case is still on and the boating complex disputed. So all the renovation work will take place in the Nalban Food Park section. 

“We plan to upgrade this park completely. It is already very popular and we intend to have the best of facilities here when it comes to sports and recreation,” said minister-in-charge of the state fisheries department Chandranath Sinha.

Work should start soon and be completed within a year. The park will remain open to visitors while work is on.

Revamp plans

The lawns will be re-laid with soft Mexican grass carpets and the waterfront would get railings. 

A joggers’ track would be built to circumnavigate the entire park and power-saving LED lights would be installed to supplement the existing lights in the park. Nalban has always had aquariums but they would get upgraded. Also, a huge wall aquarium would be installed to showcase 30 varieties of ornamental fish.

Centre for sports 

Nalban is all set to house an indoor swimming pool, squash court and tennis court.

The squash court is likely to be a single’s court measuring 975m x 64m and the playing surface would be wooden. The swimming pool would be 25m long with six lanes while the indoor tennis court will be a doubles court.

The games arena would be situated next to the existing parking lot while a separate enclosure would also house a gymnasium and yoga centre. Space has also been allotted for a couple of billiards tables.

“There has been a long-standing demand from employees of Sector V to create a sports zone here. Now that we’ve taken the plunge we shall ensure facilities are modern and adhering to international norms. Interested people may take membership and avail of the facilities,” said Soumyajit Das, managing director of SFDC.

“We want to attract office goers and fitness enthusiasts alike. The park would give stiff competition to the clubs in Calcutta that allow corporate membership,” said Das.

Foodies unite 

The food court will be built on the waterfront and will have 12 counters selling street food. 

According to an SFDC official, the corporation has already tied up with popular Bengali restaurant Bhojohori Manna to set up a stall there. Apart from this, there will be a stall by the Udipi chain of restaurants of south Calcutta and a Spencer’s outlet that would sell food items.

Also look out for the fish boutique. Here visitors would be able to buy pre-cut and pre-gutted fish. The stall would sell items like boneless Hilsa pieces, head pieces of Katla and Cheetal blocks that can be used to make Cheetal Machher Muitha. 

Nalban has an existing restaurant and bar that would continue to operate. The focus would be on Bengali cuisine, particularly on fish items. 

Recreation relief 

Angling will be allowed here under the catch-and-release system whereby anglers take away only a small part of their catch and release the rest. They would be allowed to click pictures of the fish before releasing them.

“We are also planning to start a catch-and-fry facility and will provide anglers options to fry their catch on the spot and relish it,” said Das. The cooking facilities will be extended to picnic-goers too. 

Although the Nalban Boating Complex had several boats, SFDC does not want to tread there yet. “We are speaking with the authorities that run an amusement park nearby to run boating here,” said an official.

Another official said an open-air stage, measuring 3,500-sq ft, will be built next to the tennis court. The stage will have a natural gallery around it by way of sloping grass fields for the audience to sit. 

 

Would Nalban in its new avatar attract more visitors? Write to The Telegraph Salt Lake, 6, Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700001. Email: saltlake@abpmail.com