To commemorate the November 13 terror attack in France, which saw 130 people dead, and as a mark of solidarity against terror, West Bengal government will construct a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Rajarhat, neighbouring Kolkata.
Though at 55-metres, the replica will be about six times smaller than the iconic 324-metre structure in Paris and will be about as tall as an 18-storey building. The foundation stone for the project, to be built by the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), will be laid on November 28 at Eco Park.
The tower will also have two levels where visitors can climb up to the observation room at a height of 25-meters from the ground, and get a scenic view of the township. Apart from two elevators, the building plan also includes a coffee shop and a souvenir shop, just like the original structure.
“This will be the first such model of the Eiffel Tower in India,” Sushim Banerjee, the director-general of the Institute for Steel Development and Growth that has prepared the architectural and structural designs of the Eiffel prototype, was quoted by Hindustan Times.
“It will be a giant steel structure nearly as tall as an 18-storey building. Had it not been located on the path of flights taking off and landing at Dum Dum (the airport is nearby), we could have tried to build an exact replica,” Debasish Sen, chairman of HIDCO, said.
It will take three years to build the tower after the work order is issued, a senior HIDCO official said. An estimated 300 tons of steel will be used for the project and will sport a steel grey colour.
The structure will be 18-storeys high and will join other world famous landmarks that will be recreated in the park including the Taj Mahal from India, Christ the Redeemer from Brazil, Chichen Itza from Mexico, the Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru and the Colosseum in Rome.
Presently, two iconic strictures of Kolkata, the Victoria Memorial and the Shaheed Minar (tower of the martyrs) have been illuminated in the French national colours, to mourn the tragic event.
Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the world. The 324-metre structure was erected in 1889 and has never ceased to charm tourists.