The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has launched a major crackdown on unauthorized commercial activities in residential areas, issuing immediate stop operation notices to the owners of 37 residential buildings across New Town. These buildings were found to be illegally operating as hotels, guest houses, and banquet halls without obtaining the necessary statutory permissions.
Widespread Violations Across Action Areas
According to the official list, the violations are spread across the township's prime sectors. Nineteen of the identified buildings are located in various blocks of New Town Action Area I, while the remaining 18 are situated in Action Area II. Officials confirmed that these premises were conducting full-scale commercial hospitality businesses without any approval from the competent authorities.
The authorities have stated that these operations blatantly violate a 2015 notification issued by the state's urban development department. This regulation permits only limited non-residential use of residential premises, and that too strictly after prior approval and compliance with all applicable norms, especially those concerning safety.
Fire Safety Concerns Prompt Immediate Action
The crackdown has been driven significantly by serious concerns over disaster management, particularly fire hazards. The official notice explicitly directs the concerned building owners to halt all illegal guest house, hotel, and banquet activities with immediate effect until further orders.
"Most of these establishments were found to be running with grave fire hazard implications and without necessary permission from NKDA. In some cases, the building plan was also deviated. The building owners have been directed to remain restricted from carrying out any non-residential activities," a senior NKDA official explained.
Part of an Ongoing Enforcement Drive
This action is not an isolated incident but part of a sustained survey and enforcement campaign initiated earlier this year. The authorities have been conducting regular surveys to identify residential buildings being misused for unauthorized commercial purposes.
In previous rounds of this drive, NKDA served stop operation notices to 11 unauthorized ceremonial houses and three illegally operating nursing homes running from residential premises. Just in the last few weeks, notices were issued to 13 more residential buildings for similar unauthorized commercial use.
In light of the gross anomalies discovered, NKDA is now implementing a more structured process. The authority is first issuing a provisional no-objection certificate to interested parties who wish to partially use a residential building for commercial purposes. However, the individual or company can only commence business for a maximum 5-year tenure after receiving final permission from the authorities, ensuring all regulations are met.
