Big B gives KMC staffers a break

Kolkata: Top KMC officers have time and again expressed their disgust over the slack work culture of the civic body's huge force. In fact, the municipal commissioner is often spotted loitering in the civic corridors like a headmaster to teach 'lax' workers a lesson. But on Thursday, all rules went for a toss and the bosses weren't complaining either.After all, the Sahenshah of Bollywood doesn't come calling every day.
All hell broke loose at the KMC annex building on SN Banerjee Road as soon as the vanity van of Amitabh Bachchan reached around 2pm. Big B was at work - he was there to shoot for his thriller 'TE3N' - but for the lesser mortals, it was nothing short of a celebration.
Employees stopped their work and gathered at the balconies for a glimpse of the megastar. From security guards and clerical staff to senior officials, all were seen jostling to get a vantage point. Women employees were not ready to give up either. As Big B stepped out of his van around 3pm, the crowd went crazy.
Fearing a stampede on the pathway that connects the headquarters to the annex building, all gates were closed down. Police barricaded and cordoned off the road leading to New Market. Even restaurants like Nizam's and Mughal Garden were asked to down shutters.
Later, mayor Sovan Chatterjee led a civic delegation and met the star at the shooting spot. Chatterjee handed over books on Rabindra Nath Tagore and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a publication of the civic body. Talking to reporters, mayor conceded that it was difficult to prevent the civic workforce from watching the shooting. "Like millions of other Indians, I am a fan of him as well. How can I tell others not to watch the shoot," Chatterjee gushed.