Tag: Kolkata

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West Bengal plans four new IT parks

KOLKATA: Bengal govt has planned to set up four new IT parks, of which three are in north Bengal and the other in Hooghly’s Chinsurah. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) has started work for the IT park in Kurseong while construction of another in Kalimpong is set to begin soon. State IT and electronics minister Babul Supriyo said: “We are focusing on development of IT infrastructure in north Bengal in a big way. There are three IT parks in Siliguri and all of them are functional with 100% occupancy, which encouraged us to set up three more in north Bengal.…

Residential

Kolkata: Police involve RWAs in New Town, neighbouring areas for tenant check

KOLKATA: Bidhannagar police are reaching out to residents’ welfare association (RWA) office bearers of residential housing complexes in New Town and other parts of the commissionerate, asking them to furnish a list of tenants living there and ensure all of them police clearance certificates. If the list does not match the database available with the police, they are calling up the landlords and tenants to immediately fill up a KYC verification form or face a penalty. Last month, Bidhannagar police issued an order requiring all landlords to provide tenant details to local police stations before renting out properties. “Now, a…

Industry

West Bengal government lifts land ceiling barrier for private parties

KOLKATA: From now on, no land ceiling laws will be applicable for any land allotted by the state, govt agency, or urban local bodies to private parties subject to certain conditions. Any private party buying land through this route will be entitled to automatic approval of exemption of land ceiling laws. The state urban development and municipal affairs department has issued an order stating that land parcels allotted by the govt as per the procedure prescribed in the land allotment policy will be exempted from provisions of Chapter III of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, if the…

Infrastructure

Kolkata civic body focuses on height of buildings in flight path

Representative Image KOLKATA: In the wake of the Ahmedabad tragedy, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) buildings department has alerted the executive engineers in the boroughs to strictly adhere to the building height guidelines sent by Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI issues guidelines to KMC regarding building height restrictions around airports to ensure flight safety. These guidelines are based on the AAI’s colour coded zoning maps (CCZM) and dictate permissible building heights within specific zones. Construction exceeding the permissible heights requires an NoC from AAI. According to a buildings department official, maximum vigilance will be maintained in the Cossipore-Dum…

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Five G+6 towers near Kolkata airport on AAI radar again after Gujarat tragedy

KOLKATA: The Ahmedabad plane crash has again prompted the Kolkata airport authorities to raise concerns about unauthorised structures in high-rises as threats to flights moving in and out of the city. They have turned their focus on a high-rise complex at Bablatala, which is right across the airport wall, claiming the two top floors of the five towers pose a risk. The airport officials said they had served seven notices on Loharuka Green Complex, asking the office-bearers to pull down the two top floors at the earliest, which included lift rooms and water tanks, as they were potential hazards in…

Infrastructure

Unauthorised high-rise buildings flagged by Kolkata airport authorities

KOLKATA: Unauthorised high-rises, water tanks, mobile towers, and lightning arresters are among multiple obstacles flagged by Kolkata airport authorities as threats to flights moving into and out of the city. “In the latest Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) study, which analyses obstacles around an airport that could interfere with flight operations and pose a threat to safety, 377 hazards were identified in the flight path. Of these, 90 obstacles, like light posts, hoardings, and tall trees were removed. However, several other serious obstacles, including buildings with unauthorised floors and tanks that have encroached into the flight path, need to be removed.…

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West Bengal task force to form SOP to ensure fire safety at restaurants

KOLKATA: The state task force constituted to frame rules to ensure fire safety at restaurants, including rooftop establishments, is set to prepare an SOP and send it to the state for approval. Task force members will meet at the KMC headquarters for the second time since its formation in June, said mayor Firhad Hakim, who is also a member of the task force. At the first meeting in June, the task force took stock of the situation regarding the running of rooftop restaurants. It was discussed that under no circumstances would the KMC allow sale of rooftop space for commercial…

Regulatory

Are you helping illegal constructions, Kolkata HC asks civic body

KOLKATA: Calcutta High Court on Thursday questioned KMC’s intent to act against an illegal construction on Sarat Bose Road. The municipal commissioner was directed to file a report disclosing the reason for “supporting” such unauthorised construction. Justice Amrita Sinha on Sept 14, 2023, directed the corporation to take a decision on the detected unauthorised construction and take positive steps within 12 weeks. The unauthorised construction was on premises number 22, Sarat Bose Road. Car parking space at a building sanctioned as a residential structure was illegally converted into a commercial shop. “Till date, the unauthorised construction remains and no steps…

Residential

West Bengal govt to allow residential consumers to opt out from power smart meters: Official

Representative Image KOLKATA: Amid protests over alleged inflated electricity bills following the installation of prepaid smart meters, the West Bengal government has decided to allow residential power consumers to opt out from the system and revert to traditional devices, an official said on Tuesday. The government had on Monday temporarily suspended fresh installations of smart meters for domestic consumers, he said. “The installation of smart meters for residential consumers has been temporarily suspended, but there is no plan for a mass recall. Consumers can choose to switch back to conventional meters,” the official said. The prepaid smart meter installation will…