In a decisive move prompted by the recent building collapse on Shamsul Huda Road, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is launching an extensive city-wide operation. The aim is to identify and demolish dangerously dilapidated and insecure buildings that threaten the safety of residents and pedestrians alike.
Special Powers to Raze Imminent Threats
The KMC Buildings Department is preparing to exercise special authority to tackle this urban hazard. Officials will utilize an express order under section 411(4) of the KMC Buildings Rule, a power entrusted to the municipal commissioner. This provision allows the civic body to demolish irreparable and insecure sections of a building without delay.
A recent survey has already pinpointed approximately 300 buildings across the city that are in a precarious state. Of these, over 150 structures require immediate partial or complete demolition. "We identified around 300 buildings that pose a threat to residents and pedestrians. Of these buildings, we are keeping a vigil on over 150 buildings, parts of which need to be razed without delay," stated a Buildings Department official.
High-Risk Zones and Tenant Safety
The most vulnerable buildings are concentrated in Boroughs I through IX. Key areas with a high density of such structures include:
- Cossipore, Burtolla, and Burrabazar
- Rabindra Sarani and Pathuriaghata
- Beadon Street and Chittaranjan Avenue
- College Street, Amherst Street, and Ripon Street
- Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Park Circus, Topsia, and Ballygunge
The urgency is heightened with the approaching monsoon season. "We have to vacate several dilapidated houses in the danger zones. Or else, accidents may happen at any time, especially during the monsoon," the official warned. The memory of past tragedies looms large, with more than 60 unsafe buildings having collapsed in recent years, resulting in fatalities.
A New Approach and Incentive for Reconstruction
The Shamsul Huda Road incident, where a building that appeared sound externally collapsed, has forced a rethink in inspection protocols. Civic officials now acknowledge the limitation of assessing only exterior conditions.
To facilitate a long-term solution, the KMC is introducing a unique incentive for building owners. Under section 412(A), the corporation will offer extra Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to owners who agree to reconstruct their demolished properties. This scheme is designed to help accommodate existing tenants in the new structure. "We will appeal to the owners of the dilapidated buildings to accept the unique scheme so that the tenants are saved from the continuous threat of an imminent collapse," explained a senior civic official.
This reconstruction push addresses a critical gap, particularly in areas like Burrabazar, where tenants have sought repair permissions but could not reach absentee owners. The need became acute after repeated collapses in Ahiritolla, Rabindra Sarani, and Pathuriaghata over the past three years.
