Nicco Park
LocationBidhannagar, West Bengal, India [1]
Coordinates22°34′16″N 88°25′18″E / 22.57111°N 88.42167°E / 22.57111; 88.42167
Opened13 October 1991 (1991-10-13) [2]
Owner
  • Government of West Bengal
  • Bandhan Employees' Welfare Trust
  • Angsuman Ghosh
  • Rajive Kaul[3]
Operated byNicco Parks and Resorts Limited (NPRL)
General managerRahul Singh [4]
ThemeAmusement park
Operating season364 days (11.00 A.M. to 9.00 P.M. in Summer) and 11.00 A.M. to 8.00 P.M. in Winter) (closed on Holi)
Attendance1.5 million
Area40 acres (0.16 km2)
WebsiteOfficial website
The main entrance gate of Nicco Park, Jheel Meel, Kolkata

Nicco Park is an amusement park located in Jheel Meel, Sector - IV of Bidhannagar, West Bengal, India. The park was created to attract tourists to the state by providing family-friendly recreation as well as educative entertainment. Nicco Park opened on 13 October 1991[2] and has since been referred to as the Disneyland of West Bengal.[5] Presently, the 40 acre park is home to over 35 different attractions and has served over 24 million customers.[2] Nicco Park also provides a "green" environment.[6]

History

Concept and construction

The concept of an amusement park in the Kolkata region began with the 300th anniversary of the recorded founding of Kolkata (then Calcutta).[7] While planning was under way for the tricentennial celebrations by the ruling State Government, Rajive Kaul, the current Chairman of Nicco Group, was in the US on a family holiday to Disneyland. As per the story, when Kaul returned, there was an inquiry as to why he left for America when he was very much required back home for the planning process. Supposedly, Rajive replied, "I'd gone to see if I could create a Disneyland here." What at first seemed to be just an excuse to justify his absence actually materialized to a joint venture with the West Bengal government.[8]

Joint venture

After the inception of the idea, the Government of West Bengal along with Rajive Kaul followed through with their commitment to build an amusement park in Kolkata. They set up the company Nicco Parks & Resorts Ltd. (NPRL) which was a Joint Sector Company between National Insulated Cable Corporation Ltd. (now, Nicco Corporation Ltd.) representing the private sector and the Government of West Bengal represented by West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Limited (WBIDC) and West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited (WBTDC) on 17 March 1989. The Certificate of Commencement of Business was obtained on 31 March 1989. The primary function of the company was to construct an amusement part in the outskirts of Kolkata,[9] which would be owned and maintained by Nicco Parks and Resorts Limited (NPRL).[10] The project had additional input in the form of technical advice from Blackpool Leisure & Amusement Consultancy Ltd., U.K.[9]

The lake in the park

Rajive Kaul sought financial help from Geoffrey Thompson, the then-owner and managing director of the Pleasure Beach, Blackpool. Thompson, however, only offered the assistance of Blackpool Leisure & Amusement Consultancy Ltd provide technical expertise, including surveying the land and suggesting design and safety matters. The idea of the River Caves at Nicco Park was taken by Kaul from Thompson's Blackpool, and a few years later Kaul offered to renovate the ones there recognizing the superiority of the ones at Nicco Park, Kolkata. Thompson accepted the offer.[11]

Two years after the conception of NPRL, and at a total cost of about rupees 8 crores, Nicco Park opened with 13 rides. It also took over the toy train from the previous Jheelmeel park and improved greatly upon it, providing for a tour of the whole park for passengers.[12]

About the park

Educational recreation

Nicco Park's educative recreational initiative is the concept that families should not only have a fun-filled experience but also have learned something during their time at the park.[6] The grounds were designed to provide for educational recreation, and are dotted with displays. The entrance of every ride offers explanations of the scientific principles behind the working of the rides. The park's Solar Energy village has been set up to demonstrate the functions of various non-conventional energy sources in community life. In keeping with its green theme, a greenhouse is also run by the Indo American Hybrid Seeds Ltd. selling various types of plants.

Park Timings

Main Park Opens at 10:30 AM
Ride Starts at 10:45 AM
Ride Ticket Booth opens at 10:45 AM
Food Park Opens at 11:00 AM
Entry to Main Park Closes at 6:30 PM
Ride Closes at 7:30 PM
Food Park Closes at 8:00 PM

The ticket counters generally start right on time, but all the rides may not begin at 10:45 AM. People generally come here by 11 AM and it gets crowded gradually.

Rides and attractions

Nicco Park has approximately thirty-five rides that include the Toy Train, Tilt-a-Whirl, Striking Cars, Paddle Boat, Water Chute, Water Coaster, Flying Saucer, Pirate Ship, River Caves, Cyclone and Moonraker.[13] The Giant Cyclone, added in 2003, is among Asia's largest. The ride 750 meters in length, has seven drops and goes as high as 55 feet.[14]

Attractions such as the park's cable cars and Eiffel Tower provide panoramic views of the park from above. Natural attractions include a rose garden and a forty feet high waterfall.

A decommissioned MIG-21 fighter aircraft from the Bagdogra Airbase is on display at Nicco Park, serving as an attraction with educational value.[15] It was a gift from the Eastern Air Command in 2008.[16]

The Eiffel Tower exhibit in Nicco park

There is a large food park selling North Indian, Bengali, South Indian and Chinese fast food, and kiosks run by various restaurants of Kolkata. Sheroo Bazar and Souvenir Shop Wet-O-Wild are places where one can buy accessories such as T-shirts, coffee mugs and keychains.[17]

Nicco Park has undergone expansions throughout its existence.

The park has also constructed a water park, Wet-O-Wild, inside the amusement park. There are also a rain dance performances.[18] The park also has a 4-D movie theater.[19] It has also introduced a new ride called Sky Diver which has been attracting visitors for the past two years now.

A bowling alley with restaurant and bar also exist within the park. Venues such as Octagon host corporate and non-corporate events.[20]

Nearby attractions

Adjacent to the park is the Nalban Boating Complex, offering boat tours in paddle boats, hovercraft or shikaras. Well maintained groves surround the four hundred acre lake.[21]

Salt Lake Stadium is also nearby. Opposite to the Salt Lake Stadium is the Subhash Sarovar, one of the two man made lakes of Kolkata. Though anthropogenic activities around the lake such as washing of clothes and dumping of wastes has led to its deterioration,[22] the tourism development corporation has taken up the responsibility for the beautification of the lake (2010).[23]

A decommissioned MIG-21 fighter aircraft on display

Nicco Parks and Resorts Limited (NPRL) have also diversified the park and as such Nicco parks (Jheel Meel) have been opened at neighbouring states Odisha in Bhubaneswar on December, 1998 and at Jharkhand in Jamshedpur in June 2001. A composite park has also been set up in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2003.[12] Recently there has also been a Memorandum of Understanding signed between NPRL and Intraco Group in order to set up a water park at a sea resort of Cox's Bazar at Chittagong, Bangladesh.[24]

Reception

The amusement park has received favourable response from both the public and the government as well as various corporate bodies. ITC Limited, TISCO, Britannia Industries, Bata, Nestle, Smith Kline Beecham, Union Carbide, Dunlop, ANZ Grindlays, Duncans, Goodricke as well as Cadburys are among those which have invested in the park by sponsoring rides and other attractions.[6]

Awards, certifications and recognition

The carousel ride in Nicco park

Nicco Park has received various awards in the 20 years since its inception. Among its attractions, The Giant Cyclone has been awarded the 'Best Indigenously Manufactured Ride' of 2006-07 by the Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries,[25] which also awarded Nicco Park's River Caves as the 'Most Innovative and Popular Ride' of 2009–10.[26]

Nicco Park is the first amusement park in India to be able to obtain the ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environment Management System) and the OSHAS 18000 (Safety Management System) certifications.[27] The park also states that it is the first amusement park in the world to obtain ISO 9002 certification from a European Certifying Authority.[28] It has also received the "ICC Corporate Excellence Award". The Indian Association of Amusement Parks & Industries have declared the River Caves at Nicco Park as the most popular ride and innovative ride of 2010.[13]

The SA 8000 (Social Accountability) certificate which they received from DNV on 14 December 2008,[29] makes Nicco Park the first amusement park in India to receive the certification. It is also reported that they are the first amusement park in the world to receive the honour.[27][29][30][31]

The main public entrance of Nicco Park, Jheel Meel, Kolkata

Incidents

An accident occurred at Nicco Park in January 2010 when a woman and child fell off of the park's Moon Raker ride. Authorities claim the accident was caused by the woman's own carelessness, but she blames the accident on company negligence, citing the derailment of two of the six trolleys.[32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "North 24 Parganas district".
  2. 1 2 3 "Nicco Parks & Resorts Ltd". Blooloop.com. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Ray, Atmadip (31 October 2021). "Bandhan Employees' Welfare Trust and Angshuman Ghosh together buy a 25% stake in Nicco Parks & Resorts". The Economic Times. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Nicco Parks & Resorts Ltd (NPR.BO)". Reuters. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Nicco Park". kolkata.org.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 "Company History - Nicco Park and Resorts". Dion Global Solutions Limited. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "About Kolkata". Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Mickey Mouse Marxism". The Times of India. 5 December 2004. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Nicco Parks & Resorts Ltd". The Economic Times. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "The Corporate Face". Nicco Parks. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  11. ↑ Aiyar, Pallavi (12 August 2010). "Erecting an empire on enjoyment". Business Standard. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Where's the fun gone?". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 6 April 2008. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Nicco Park". mapsofindia.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Giant Cyclone Ride ready at Nicco Park". The Times of India. 15 March 2003. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "MIG-21 on show at Nicco Park". Business Standard India. Business Standard. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  16. ↑ "MIG 21FL at Nicco Park". warbirds.in. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  17. ↑ "Nicco Park Kolkata". Shopping Kolkata. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  18. ↑ "Nicco Park". famous-india.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  19. ↑ "Kolkata Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing". kolkata.world-guides.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  20. ↑ "Nicco Park: The Events Venue". Nicco Parks. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  21. ↑ "Nalban Boating Complex". Clickindia. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  22. ↑ Saha, Tapan; Majumder, Shrabani som; Manna, Nirmal kr; Bhattacharyya, Debojyoty; Prof. Dutta, Jyotirmoy; Dr. Bandyopadhyay, Tarasankar (2000). "Monitoring of Environmental Status of Subhas Sarobar, Calcutta and Preparation of Management Action Plan" (PDF). Retrieved 24 May 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. ↑ Basu, Jayanta (30 August 2010). "Concrete mess at Sarobar". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  24. ↑ "MoU signed for water park in Bangladesh sea resort". The Bengal Post. 26 December 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  25. ↑ "Cyclone". themeparkreview.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  26. ↑ "Nicco Park: Recognition". niccoparks.com. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  27. 1 2 "Recognition". Nicco Parks. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  28. ↑ "Nicco Park - IndiaAirport.com". indiaairport.com. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  29. 1 2 Saasaccreditation.org. "SA8000 Certified Facilities: As of December 31, 2011" (PDF). SA8000 Certified Facilities List: 102. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  30. ↑ "Nicco Parks & Resorts Ltd". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  31. ↑ "Annual Reports : Nicco Parks & Resorts Ltd". Edelweiss. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  32. ↑ "Nicco Park fun-ride fall". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 3 January 2010. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
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