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The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has renewed its crackdown on structurally unsafe buildings, revealing that 10% of nearly 3,000 flagged structures are in a critical state. Mostly over a century old and built with lime and mortar, these buildings have weakened further due to harsh monsoon cycles. High-risk areas include Burrabazar, Cossipore, Burtolla, and parts of central Kolkata. Following a recent fatal collapse in Bowbazar, officials have reactivated demolition and repair orders. Urgent notices are being served to landlords and residents in severely damaged buildings across streets like Ripon Street and Lenin Sarani. Civic engineers have been tasked with re-inspections and immediate safety action.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation took renewed action against structurally insecure buildings, revealing that approximately ten per cent of the 3,000 such structures in the city had reached an extremely critical state. These buildings, largely over a hundred years old, were originally built using lime and mortar-materials highly susceptible to monsoon-induced weakening. Officials noted that the recurring cycle of heavy rains followed by heat further destabilised the already fragile binding in many of these properties. Advertisement
The most at-risk buildings were identified in neighbourhoods such as Burrabazar, Cossipore, Burtolla, and the central boroughs including areas around Park Circus. Civic officials confirmed that borough engineers had been directed to issue urgent notices to landlords, requiring them to either carry out repairs or allow immediate demolition where warranted. They emphasised that structural safety, particularly during the monsoon period, must take precedence.
Although the city-wide survey of dangerous buildings had been ongoing for several years, the demolition drive had lost traction in recent times. However, a recent collapse in the Bowbazar area, which resulted in casualties, prompted authorities to resume the campaign with urgency. In response, engineers were asked to re-inspect Grade-I dangerous structures and proceed swiftly with safety measures.
The civic body has also been alerting residents living in highly compromised buildings on streets like Ripon Street, Lenin Sarani, Elliot Road and Taltala. Notices have already been issued, and residents have been urged to evacuate immediately. Officials acknowledged that while some landlords were cooperating, others were reluctant, often citing tenant disputes or ownership confusion.
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