Calcutta to be painted blue to tackle urban decay

19.02.2012

Political leaders in Calcutta have found a novel way of tackling urban decay in the sprawling metropolis of more than 14m people – paint the city a light shade of blue.

Its colonial-era bridges have already been painted while blue light bulbs illuminate its historic architecture. The city's numerous yellow taxis are to follow.

Firhad Hakim, the urban development minister, said the colour had been chosen to represent the new city administration's motto of "the sky's the limit".

"From now on, all government buildings, whenever they are repainted, will be done in sky blue.," he said.

But many are not impressed.