Tag: Kolkata

IndustryLatest Stories

Builders ask West Bengal to lift high-rise construction ban

Representative AI image KOLKATA: The real estate sector in Kolkata has called on the state government to lift the ban on high-rise construction projects immediately, asserting that the audit process can proceed concurrently with regulated activities at construction sites. Developers are ready to submit formal commitments to ensure compliance with all legal, structural, and safety standards, allowing suspended projects to resume without indefinite delays for approvals. The government’s deadline for completion of the audit expires on Friday, and only around 10% of the affected projects have received clearance to restart construction so far. Construction was halted at 344 high-rise projects…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

West Bengal Requires Wastewater Recycling in Housing Societies

Representative AI image KOLKATA: The state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department has announced the ‘West Bengal State Policy on Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater’. This policy aims to mandate residential housing units to maximize the reuse of treated wastewater for non-potable purposes. Additionally, for industrial applications, the goal is to source at least 20% of total water needs from municipal wastewater by 2030. The authorities had previously developed a draft to promote safe and sustainable reuse of treated wastewater across the state. According to the final notification, all residential buildings constructed post-environmental clearance must prioritize the reuse of treated…

IndustryLatest Stories

Regime Change Boosts Realtors’ Hopes in West Bengal

NEW DELHI: The new administration in West Bengal is anticipated to stimulate a surge in real estate activity in Kolkata and its surrounding areas, as developers look forward to strategic land reforms, including repealing the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act of 1976, to facilitate development and draw in new investments. “Our expectations for the current West Bengal government are high, particularly given its commitment to growth and investment,” stated Saket Mohta, Managing Director of Merlin Group. “The real estate domain holds significant potential to serve as a pivotal growth engine for the state, and we are hopeful for accelerated…

IndustryLatest Stories

Kolkata: 11 of 136 High-Rise Sites Approved for Construction

KOLKATA: The high-power committee established by the government to audit ongoing high-rise construction projects following the Taratala warehouse collapse has approved just 11 out of 136 assessed projects so far. The remainder is stalled due to non-compliance with labor registration and orientation requirements. A total of 344 projects are currently being reviewed. The Bengal government and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) ordered an immediate halt to all construction on June 24-25 after the warehouse incident that resulted in 16 fatalities. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that construction would resume only after thorough audits of the projects. KMC Commissioner and Administrator…

IndustryLatest Stories

Kolkata Lifts G+4 Construction Ban, Prioritizes High-Rise Safety

KOLKATA: In a significant development for owners and developers of buildings up to five stories (G+4) and high-rise projects in Kolkata, the KMC has revised a notification issued last Friday, allowing the resumption of construction for five-storey structures and enabling high-rise projects to finish essential safety work without restrictions. Since June 24, all construction activities were suspended due to the tragic collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Taratala, resulting in the deaths of 16 workers. Following this incident, the government halted further construction and mandated a safety audit for all projects. The following day, both the Chief Minister and the…

IndustryLatest Stories

Kolkata: Audit Panel to Evaluate 60 New Town High-Rises

KOLKATA: Around 60 residential and commercial high-rise structures built in the last three years in New Town are now under scrutiny by the government’s high-level audit committee. This comes as the verification process begins for all G+5 high-rise buildings and commercial establishments. According to the standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by the government, all civic corporations and urban local bodies involved in the audit of high-rise buildings must first compile a list of cases where building plan approvals have been granted in the past three years. The focus will be on under-construction projects such as hospitals, nursing homes, educational institutions,…

IndustryLatest Stories

West Bengal Issues 3-Page SOP for Builders’ Construction Audit

KOLKATA: On Monday, the state government issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for builders, requiring them to complete a three-page application form detailing project sanctions, permit numbers, and essential personnel involved. Major developers in Kolkata have welcomed this decentralized approach, as they now need to submit forms to relevant borough offices rather than the civic headquarters. Projects located in Salt Lake, New Town, and Rajarhat will submit their documentation to the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation. In contrast, those in Howrah and Bally will direct theirs to the Howrah Municipal Corporation. Additionally, projects in municipalities like Pujali, Baruipur, Budge Budge, Maheshtala, and…

IndustryLatest Stories

“700 Sites Halt Work in Kolkata; Daily Losses at ₹25 Crore”

KOLKATA: Construction work halted at nearly 700 sites across the city on Thursday after the government issued a stop-work notice in response to the warehouse collapse and subsequent fatalities near Taratala. The real estate sector endured a tense day, hoping the government would reconsider its decision in the coming days, allowing established developers to resume significant projects. Industry representatives indicated that a five-week shutdown would be devastating, estimating daily losses from the stop-work order to be around Rs 20-25 crore. “Organized real estate projects are executed with strict supervision by qualified engineers, follow approved plans, and maintain high-quality control standards.…

IndustryLatest Stories

Panel to Audit Sanctioned Plans for Kolkata High-Rises

KOLKATA: West Bengal’s government has formed a committee to conduct a special audit of sanctioned plans for high-rise residential and commercial buildings in and around Kolkata. This initiative was disclosed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, explaining that the committee will meet on Friday to start this important task. In response to the recent warehouse collapse that resulted in 11 fatalities, the Chief Minister ordered a thorough audit of all commercial projects currently under construction that received approval from the former TMC administration. Work on these projects has been suspended until July 31, as per Adhikari’s directive. Adhikari reiterated that construction…

CommercialLatest Stories

West Bengal CM Suspends Kolkata Projects Until July 31

KOLKATA: On Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a suspension of all under-construction commercial projects approved by the previous TMC government until July 31, following a warehouse collapse that resulted in five fatalities. After visiting the accident site, the chief minister revealed that initial reports indicated significant flaws in the approved building plans for the collapsed warehouse. “I have instructed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) commissioner and the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department to halt work on all projects approved by the previous regime, especially those that involved filling water bodies. We will conduct an audit of…