Outsiders often complain that all blocks in Salt Lake look the same. However, to those living within the township, each block is like a different song from the same popular album. Each possesses a soul of its own.
The area, reclaimed from a marshy stretch in 1967, was conceived as a self-sufficient satellite city (according to the Bidhannagar Bikash Manch). Buddhadev Basu, a long-term resident of DB block, says, “After the reclamation process, Salt Lake was divided into sectors and blocks. Space was allotted to residents in Sector I first through lottery or government reference. I came to DB block in 1985, when there were barely 200 residents here. I was instrumental in setting up the committee.” The neighbourhood now has a population of about 3,203 (in 2020).
DB Block, one of the smallest in Salt Lake, has its perks. Agreed, it begins and ends within 0.2 square kilometres. Naysayers argue that the park doesn’t have as large a football field as the other blocks. It does not even have a designated market.
In the thick of things
There is a certain charm to being able to call all of Salt Lake your own while having your own little corner within it at the same time. You can go for morning walks in Central Park, and gorge on kachori afterwards at Gupta Brothers. You can buy groceries at the markets in BD, EC or even in AE Block, and feel equally welcome everywhere. Being in the block with the closest proximity to City Centre 1 makes it impossible for you to feel the absence of a market. All retail cravings can be satisfied with a mere 30-second walk. Block members will relate with the feeling of being able to navigate the mall’s complex lane system with complete ease while others struggle to find directions to stores.
Easy commute
The block is located barely a kilometre from Ultadanga, and two from Karunamoyee. Residents have ample commuting options, with autos and buses plying across three of the block’s four sides. The adjoining metro gate will make life much easier once the East-West corridor is fully operational (for the sake of optimism, let’s not ask when).
Recent upgrades
While, in the past, the block was quiet and kept to itself for the most, it has seen quite a few visitors in recent years. The opening of popular eateries Pappu Chaiwalla, The Darjeeling and The Melbourne Cafe, literally next to each other, has made it easier to grab a quick bite or enjoy an adda session with friends. The park has been renovated, with gates, to prevent footballs from flying out, and a cosy shed. It is now impossible to find it vacant during the day.
Inimitable Pujo
The intimacy of the block is best seen during Durga Puja. After years of celebrating the festivities in the Community Hall with a traditional protima, the Pujo Committee took things up a notch. They conceptualised award-winning pandals year-after-year and put DB Block’s Pujo on the map for pandal-hoppers from outside Salt Lake. It is hard to identify one distinct flavour of the block’s Pujo, with kids running around in circles with their toy guns blasting away, the ashtami aarti, the scrumptious bhog, sindoor-khela, or the scent of the dhunuchi.