West Bengal Secretariat to Return to Writers' Buildings

The West Bengal government has announced that it will move the State secretariat back to Writers' Buildings, a decision that is expected to revive businesses for small traders in the area. The secretariat was shifted to Nabanna in Howrah 13 years ago, resulting in a significant decline in sales for local businesses, including tea stalls, small eateries, and xerox shops.

Owners of small businesses in the B.B.D. Bagh area, where Writers' Buildings is located, have welcomed the decision, saying it will help them recover from the losses they incurred after the secretariat was shifted. According to Prabir Saha, a tea stall owner, the return of government employees and visitors is expected to boost his business, which had suffered significantly after the secretariat was shifted.

Local traders' associations estimate that hundreds of small businesses in and around B.B.D. Bagh either shut down or drastically downsized over the last decade due to dwindling customer flow. Economists and urban planners have pointed out that the relocation of major administrative hubs can affect the entire ecosystem of informal and small-scale commerce dependent on daily office activity.

The State government's decision to move the secretariat back to Writers' Buildings is expected to be permanent, according to a senior State government official. The move is likely to be completed soon, with the government expected to resume full-fledged operations from the Writers' Buildings. The court will not be involved in this decision as it is an administrative move, however, the West Bengal government will hold a meeting with local traders and businesses to discuss the revival of the area.