Kolkata to have India’s first book mall

With the famed Kolkata Book Fair ousted from the Maidan to the city’s fringe, book-lovers are set for a bonanza.

With the famed Kolkata Book Fair ousted from the Maidan to the city’s fringe, book-lovers are set for a bonanza. Kolkata would soon have the country’s first book mall, Varna Parichay.

The 780,000 sq ft mall, designed by Hafeez Contractor as an ambitious seven-storey redevelopment of the College Street market, will also have the first auction space for rare books and manuscripts and a host of other features.

Samar Nag, MD of the joint venture behind the project, says the demolition of the 90-year-old market would begin on Sunday. He says: “Apart from a modern book mall, we will create an agency to run an auction centre, where buyers and sellers can interact once a month.” The mall would have a smokers’ corner, a coffee shop and a library as well. Besides, it will have a multi-level car parking next to it.

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Bengal Shelter Housing Development Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between the state and Shelter Housing, is scheduled to begin construction by April end. Shop-owners of the market have been given the keys to temporary digs nearby, and will get space on the ground and first floors.

The mall, to be completed in 36 months, has already attracted prospective tenants from outside Kolkata including the UK, says Nag.