Kolkata: Construction of the underground tunnel for the East-West Metro stretch from Esplanade to Sealdah has been affected, with residents of some old buildings in the area refusing to vacate the premises.
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL) will make necessary arrangements to rehabilitate the owners and tenants of old buildings and will bring them back to their old houses after the construction of the underground tunnel is over.
The construction of the underground tunnel from Esplanade to Sealdah which began in January has been challenging, as there are 138 old buildings located along the route. One to one-and-a-half years is estimated to be required for completion of the tunnel.
The underground tunnel will be constructed below S N Banerjee Road up to the Bank of India via Nirmal Chandra Sarani and Bowbazar Street branch and then Sealdah.
Senior officials of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said that out of these 138 buildings, over 80 are in bad shape and there are more than 30 buildings that are more than 100 years old. Some of the century-old buildings include the Metropolitan Building, Kolkata Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) headquarters, Rani Rashmoni's house, ITI building, house of Dr B C Roy and the house of Pratap Chandra Chunder among others.
The officials said most of the old buildings had not been repaired for many years and proper precaution should be taken to save them during the construction of the tunnel.