Kolkata to be painted blue under "sky is the limit" motto

Feb 17, 2012, 11:21 GMT

New Delhi - Kolkata is to be painted blue to fit the government's motto, 'the sky is the limit,' a move that has sparked criticism, news reports said Friday.

Government buildings, flyovers, roadside railings and taxis would be painted light blue in the eastern metropolis, a minister from the ruling Trinamool Congress told the Indian Express newspaper.

'Our leader, [state Chief Minister] Mamata Banerjee, has decided that the theme colour of the city will be sky blue because the motto of the new government is 'the sky is the limit,'' Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim was quoted as saying.

'From now on, all government buildings, whenever they are repainted, will be done in sky blue,' he said.

The colour of the yellow taxis in West Bengal's capital, home to 14.1 million people, would also be changed to light blue and white. Owners of private buildings would be asked to follow the same colour pattern at their own expense.

A number of the city's famous landmarks would be repainted but heritage buildings would be exempt, the minister said.

The announcement was criticized by media, opposition parties and Trinamool's coalition partner, the Indian National Congress.

'The state government is preoccupying itself with non-essential issues and not prioritizing development, establishment of rule of law at the ground level,' Congress leader OP Mishra said.

Residents complained of a waste of money in a city infamous for crumbling infrastructure and chaotic traffic. Media reports said 800 million rupees, or 16 million dollars, had been allocated for the scheme.

Jaipur in India's north-western state of Rajasthan is called the Pink City after its pink sandstone buildings. Its neighbour Jodhpur is called the Blue City because many residents have painted their dwellings that colour.