New Town | October 17, 2025:
After nearly seven years, former Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee has made a major comeback — this time as the Chairman of the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA).
The appointment was officially announced through a state notification on Friday, just two days after Chatterjee met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Darjeeling’s Richmond Hill.
Why It Matters for New Town
Sovan Chatterjee replaces Alapan Bandyopadhyay, the former Chief Secretary and current Chief Advisor to the CM, who had been managing NKDA duties so far.
For residents, this appointment could mean faster decision-making and a more visible leadership face for the township — something civic activists have long been demanding.
With Sovan Chatterjee’s administrative experience and direct access to the state leadership, expectations are now high that NKDA will move faster on urban amenities, drainage, smart lighting, and road expansion — long-standing issues for the growing satellite city.
Speaking to reporters after the appointment, Sovan Chatterjee said he was “deeply grateful to Mamatadi” for reposing trust in him again.
“New Town is a new city — fast-growing, full of potential. My duty is to justify the faith shown in me and work with dedication to make it even more beautiful and modern,” he said.
Chatterjee added that his first priority would be to study the existing civic and infrastructure challenges before drawing up a roadmap for improvement.
What do you think? Having Sovan Chatterjee as NKDA chairman will be a boon for New Town? Leave your comments below.