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Dear Participants,
We are looking forward to welcoming you at the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) campus.This message contains some additional information that may be useful to you concerning your arrival and VECC campus site.
VECC campus is located at the Sector-I of Block AF in Saltlake. VECC is also known to the common people as Bhabha Centre.
The school will start following a short inaugural program (9:30 am- 11:00 am on 13th May) which will take place at the Ajay Divatiya (A.D.) Lecture Hall. Two eminent scientists of our country, Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy and Prof. Bikash Sinha will address the participants.
ARRIVAL:
Upon arrival, you may hire a cab/taxi to go directly to VECC Guest House which is located at VECC campus (Sector 1, Block AF, Saltlake, Kolkata 700 064). You may check on our school website about the details, how to reach our guest house.
12th May is the polling day in Kolkata for the Indian Parliament Election, so there may be less availability of transport (particularly buses). We expect that there should be no problem to get taxis from airport, however there may be scarcity of taxis at the railway stations. We hope that students traveling by trains will manage to get taxis. We suggest all the students to hire taxis from the pre-paid booths (in Howrah and Sealdah railway stations). If you are travelling by a group, you can also try to book radio taxis (Mega Cab: phone number 033 41414141) which are slightly costlier, but sharing by two or more with your friends may be cheaper. If your train arrives at late night, we suggest that wait in the stations until early morning.
You must carry an identity card (preferably provided by your institute/university/college) and a copy of the letter/e-mail of invitation sent to you by us. In the polling day (12th May), city police may ask you to produce this while entering to Saltlake.
ACCOMODATION:
All the outstations teachers and students are accommodated in our guest house, so that you can have better interaction beyond school hours.
Students will be accommodated in twin share room. The guest house receptionist will try his best to offer you to choose your roommate after your arrival.
FOOD:
Breakfast, lunch and dinner during school days (12th May evening to 24th May morning) will be served at the VECC canteen TV lounge or VIP lounge which is adjacent to the guest house. If you are arriving before 12th afternoon, you may avail the VECC general canteen facilities by paying yourself.
REGISTRATION:
On Monday, May 12th, a registration desk will be set up at the reception desk of VECC guest house. Registration starts at 6:30 pm. We will also setup another registration desk on 13th May 8:45 am at the A.D. Lecture Hall lounge.
Important: VECC being a secured zone, we had to take special permission for you to carry your cell phone and laptops inside the VECC campus. In the security desk at the main entrance gate of VECC, you have to declare your laptops and cell phones while you enter our campus. Please don’t carry your camera inside the campus. Photography inside VECC is strictly prohibited, so please don’t use your cell phone camera. For the Non-Indian participants, entry to VECC campus must be through the Main Entrance Gate, every time you enter the campus, you have to report to the security desk at the main entrance gate. Only those, who are staying inside VECC Guest house can avail the Guest House Entrance gate.
EVENING LECTURES:
Two evening lectures (7:00 pm – 8:00 pm) are arranged during the school. Prof Amit Roy will deliver lecture on 15th May and Prof. S. Kailas will deliver lecture on 22nd May.
INTERNET ACCESS:
There is free internet access at the A.D. Lecture Hall and VECC Guest House. At all the places mentioned above, there will be a wireless connection. However, bandwidth may not be that good. If you have dongle, we encourage carrying it with you.
School DINNER:
VECC director will host a dinner party at 8:00 pm on Thursday, 15th May, at VECC VIP lounge. We will have a river cruise dinner on the Ganges on Sunday, 18th May, hosted by the organizing committee.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
12th May is the polling day in Kolkata for Indian Parliament Election. At the very last moment, most of the organisers have been asked to go to conduct election. Even our canteen managers, transport-in-charge and security officers with their staffs, will have to go to conduct election on 11th May.
Although we are trying to take measures, but we are afraid that there may be issues regarding the smooth organisation during the initial days (11th to 13th May), as most of the departmental staffs may not be available. The quality and service of the food may not be up to the mark, you may have to wait little longer in the security counter or guest house reception desk! We feel sorry about that and we need your cooperation.
Just for your info, there are plenty of restaurants (10 minutes walk from guest house) at a place called "Swimming poll":
'Dominoz' for pizza,
'Subway' for sandwiches,
'Scoop' (that serves breakfast too) for North Indian/South Indian/Chinese,
'Silver Chimney': multi-cuisine,
'Bhajohari manna': Bengali food.
‘Family Chicken’: for chicken lovers
‘Chowman’: Chinese
You may have a look in the map (click here) to find the location of the "Swming pool" area where all these restaurants are located.
WEATHER:
In summer, Kolkata weather can be very hot (~ 40 deg C). This year we are experiencing an unusual less humid ( ~ 30 %) summer. Carry an umbrella and sun glasses with you, if you can. Be prepared to experience Kolkata summer!
We are looking forward to seeing you all in the “City of Joy” Kolkata for an exciting school!
Please feel free to contact the organizers if you have any query while you are travelling. Contact phone numbers are: Chandana Bhattacharya: +91 9433029711 & Surajit Pal: +91 9433110923
Safe travels to you all.
For the Local Organizing Committee
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