Kolkata will have its own Ferris wheel called Kolkata Merina on the
Hooghly waterfront, just like the London Eye. It will be the tallest
Ferris wheel in the world and the tallest observatory in Kolkata 150-180
metres in diameter and 140-170 metres tall with 30 capsules to
accommodate some 500 people.
The project has attracted five global players which includes two architects from London to develop the ‘Kolkata Eye’.
The tourism department of Bengal has floated a global tender in
October. The project will offer various entertainments other than the
bird eye view of the city and adventure sports like yachting, rowing and
canoeing, anglers will have a quiet zone to themselves.
It will be a joint venture project between the state government and a
private partner, the tourism ministry of Bengal. The last date of
filing the EOIs passed last week. The architect firms of London Eye who
applied include Enerpac, Hollandia, Rankins, Tong Gee & Partners.
The process of scrutiny in underway, state tourism secretary Raghabendra
Singh said that after the vendors are shortlisted they will be invited
to give their presentations, and after submitting their technical and
financial bids will the deal be finialised.
London Eye, the giant wheel on the banks of River Thames, is 135
metres (443 ft) tall and has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). It is
the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist
attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people
annually. When erected in 1999, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the
world, until surpassed first by the 160m (520 ft) Star of Nanchang in
2006, and then the 165m (541 ft) Singapore Flyer in 2008. Kolkata Merina
will be 165 metres, tallest Ferris wheel in the world.
A site near the second Hooghly Bridge on Howrah has been shortlisted
by the officials and executives of Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners.
The venue has been chosen as the Howrah river bank so that the view of
the Kolkata skyline is clear.
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