Kolkata: Following requests from morning walkers and lake regulars to minister Agnimitra Paul, the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority has started installing iron sheds over the benches at Rabindra Sarobar.Some of the benches will be reserved for the elderly and differently abled. Officials said that 30 such sheds will be set up in the first phase. “There are 468 benches, out of which there are sheds over 57 benches. Sheds will be installed in the remaining 411 benches in phases,” said an official.The first shed covering a bench reserved for elderly citizens was installed at Paddapukur end of the lake on Tuesday. Morning walkers welcomed the development. “We are happy to see such prompt action from the authorities,” said Somendra Mohan Ghosh, a lake regular. Also following Paul’s recent inspection of the Lake, the authorities have received the go-ahead to set up an archive. “There was a dilapidated primary school building within the Sarobar premises, which became non-functional back in 2009. The building has been restored and renovated. The plan is to set up an archive cum museum which will display the history of the century old artificial lake sprawling over 192 acre,” said an official.KMDA will also take up work to rejuvenate the three large islands to protect them from erosion and damage of greenery. KMDA also initiated the process to introduce the lake entry ticketing system.
