The West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation, commonly known by its acronym HIDCO, is a state-owned housing and urban infrastructure corporation operating in the Indian state of West Bengal. It functions under the Government of West Bengal and is primarily associated with the planning and development of New Town, Kolkata, a planned township on the eastern fringes of the Kolkata metropolitan area.
| Name | West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation |
|---|---|
| Common name | HIDCO |
| Type | State government corporation |
| Sector | Housing and urban infrastructure |
| Jurisdiction | West Bengal, India |
| Owner | Government of West Bengal |
| Notable project | New Town, Kolkata |
Background
HIDCO was constituted by the Government of West Bengal as a special-purpose corporation to undertake the acquisition, planning and development of land for large-scale housing and infrastructure projects. Its formation reflected a policy of using a dedicated state agency, rather than the existing municipal bodies alone, to execute integrated township development on the periphery of Kolkata.
Role and functions
The corporation's principal responsibilities include:
- Planning and laying out of new townships and housing zones.
- Development of urban infrastructure such as roads, drainage, water supply and civic amenities.
- Allotment of plots and properties to individuals, cooperative societies, institutions and private developers.
- Coordination with other state agencies for utilities, transport and public services within its project areas.
New Town, Kolkata
The most prominent project executed by HIDCO is the development of New Town, a planned township in the North 24 Parganas district adjacent to Salt Lake City and the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The township was conceived to accommodate residential, commercial, institutional and information-technology uses, and includes sectoral development under Action Areas designated by HIDCO. The corporation has been the principal land-development authority for the township, while civic administration is carried out by the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA).
Significance
HIDCO is significant in the urban history of West Bengal as the agency through which the state attempted a large, planned eastward expansion of the Kolkata urban region. Through New Town, the corporation has been involved in shaping policies on smart-city features, electric mobility, green building norms and integrated transport corridors in eastern Kolkata.
Related topics
- New Town, Kolkata
- New Town Kolkata Development Authority
- Salt Lake City, Kolkata
- Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority
- Government of West Bengal
- Urban planning in India
References
- Wikidata entity: Q17072023