NGTV NEWS | KOLKATA DESK
Biswa Bangla Sarani Renaming Proposal Sparks Debate
KOLKATA, AUGUST 27, 2026: A proposal to rename Biswa Bangla Sarani as Shri Krishna Chaitanya Avenue has triggered a fresh debate over heritage, identity and the politics of public spaces in West Bengal. The proposed change is part of a wider government exercise to review the names of roads and public infrastructure associated with previous administrations.
The 33.5-kilometre stretch runs from the airport towards Kamalgazi, covering major portions of New Town, Salt Lake, VIP Road and EM Bypass. It was named Biswa Bangla Sarani in 2015 by the then state government. The road-renaming committee is expected to place the proposal before a panel of historians, researchers and cultural experts next month, with a decision potentially coming before Durga Puja.
Supporters of the proposed name argue that roads and landmarks should reflect Bengal’s historical and cultural heritage. Naming the thoroughfare after Sri Chaitanya, the influential 15th-century Bengali Vaishnavite saint, is being presented as an effort to give greater prominence to a figure deeply associated with Bengal’s cultural history.
Critics, however, question whether changing established names risks erasing contemporary history and creating unnecessary confusion for residents, commuters and businesses. The debate is particularly relevant because “Biswa Bangla” has become closely associated with New Town’s public identity and Bengal’s cultural branding.
Ultimately, the controversy is less about a signboard and more about how a city chooses to remember its past while shaping its future.
NGTV NEWS | KOLKATA DESK
