ABSTRACT

The concept of modernity transforming the urban environment occurs in various locations and across eras. Sometimes, it even rewrites its own traces within one place in the course of time. In addition to the conscious integration of architectural modernism, Bat'a also employed a social reform-oriented planning approach combined with the introduction of high standard living conditions and new consumption practices. Batanagar was founded in 1934, as the Bata Company's first satellite outside Europe, and as the first town in a country with a colonial affliation. It is located in the metropolitan area of Calcutta in the Indian state of West Bengal. Batanagar, like all Bat'a company towns was positioned to take advantage of three existing local infrastructures; the river Hooghly, the railway, and the Budge Budge Road, the main motorway connection to Calcutta. A corporate identity was introduced to employees and their families.