The consultancy, which was appointed by the state government and Britain's Department for International Development (DFID) for drawing out a roadmap for the city's revival, will submit its final report by the end of this year.

Michael Moulds, Mott MacDonald's team leader for urban and regional planning international, said: "We prepared a broad rejuvenation strategy for the entire area and have identified three catalytic projects for redevelopment of the areas."

These include projects involving sports and fitness, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals project, health, education and hospitality.

While the sports and fitness project will be located in south Howrah, the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals project will be located in the centre of the city.

The remaining project of education and hospitality will dominate north Howrah, with the area between Uluberia and Bally getting special focus.

"These three catalytic projects — along with the (Howrah) riverfront development plan — would play a major role in rejuvenating the 'Sheffield of the East'," Moulds said, in a reference to Howrah's past glory as an engineering hub.