Bowbazar residents reluctant to sign NOC for demolition of houses

Kolkata: The residents and shop owners at Bowbazar are reluctant to sign the no-objection certificate (NOC) for demolishing their buildings that have been severely damaged due to the tunnel boring for East-West Metro project, unless Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL) gives them in writing when they are going to hand over their new houses.

"We have not signed the no-objection certificate. We want KMRCL to give us in writing the duration after which they would hand over the new houses," said Vijay Suryavanshi, a resident of 12, Syakra Para Lane, who also runs Vijay Assay Centre Private Limited.

While the KMRCL has identified 35 buildings in Bowbazar which are beyond repair, 20 such buildings will soon be razed to the ground.

KMRCL, the executing agency of the East-West Metro project, has already informed the core committee headed by Chief Secretary Malay De about the development.

A total of approximately 74 buildings have suffered damages or developed cracks in the mishap. More than 600 residents living at Durga Pithuri Lane, Syakra Para Lane and Gour De Lane have been evacuated till now.

The evacuated residents of all these houses have been shifted to various hotels across the city for temporary accommodation by KMRCL.

It might be mentioned that state Planning and Statistics minister Tapas Roy also had to vacate his house situated at 105 B B Ganguly Street. According to senior civic officials, the worst affected buildings are over 100 years old and have not been repaired for the past 50 years or more.