Kolkata to be Wi-Fi city. General Knowledge January 2015.

Kolkata is set to become India’s first fully WiFi-enabled metro city with a private operator launching the service from Park Street on February 5 and then rolling it out in a phased manner across 144 municipal wards over the next couple of months. The whole of Kolkata is expected to come under Wi-Fi coverage by Bengali New Year in mid-April.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee made the surprise announcement at the inauguration of the International Kolkata Book Fair on Tuesday evening.

“Delighted to announce that #Kolkata will become India’s first fully Wi-Fi enabled metro city in the next 2-3 months. Park St from Feb 5,“ the CM tweeted moments after making the announcement. “Let others talk about Digital India. We just delivered Digital Kolkata,“ party spokesperson Derek O’Brien tweeted immediately .

To begin with, users of smartphones, tablets, laptops and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices travelling through Park Street, Loudon Street, Royd Street, Sudder Street and adjoining localities will be able to access the service. Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, who was entrusted to ensure that the service delivery deadline is met, told TOI the Kolkata Municipal Corporation would monitor the progress of Wi-Fi rollout and give it due priority .

Sources in Trinamool Congress said Mamata was keen to do something that would be viewed as a gamechanger to not only alter the perception about Kolkata but also change the image of her government as one that is passive and embroiled in corruption to progressive.