Shop owners to get ad hoc aid of Rs 50K each: KMRCL

Kolkata: Shop owners of Bowbazar area who have been facing losses due to the mishap caused by tunnel boring work for the East West Metro Project would be given an ad-hoc amount of Rs 50,000 each by the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL), officials said Saturday.

A committee has been formed to address the grievances faced by shop owners. The decision was taken after a meeting was held with shop owners Friday, said KMRCL officials.

"We forwarded a proposal of giving an ad-hoc amount of Rs 50,000 to the shop owners. This is not the final amount. We have formed a working committee comprising KMRCL officials and shop owners to discuss further issues," said KMRCL official.

Apart from house owners and residents of the area, a large number of shop owners in Bowbazar say they have been forced to shut their long-running businesses.

Several shops on B B Ganguly Street were closed by the administration, citing safety concerns after buildings in the area started collapsing. In order to put pressure on the authorities, they had also staged a demonstration recently demanding space for their business.

(With inputs from Indian Express)