Can’t wait, rebuild 23 Bowbazar homes in 9 months: KMC
Times of India | 26 August 2025
Kolkata: Mayor Firhad Hakim on Monday pressed for expediting the reconstruction of houses on Durga Pituri Lane and Shyakrapara Lane in the Bowbazar cave-in zone. Taking up a resolute stance, Hakim—who had called a Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) delegation to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters—asked the agency to wrap up the rebuilding of 23 houses within nine months. The mayor also made it clear that KMC would, in no way, wait any longer than a year for the reconstruction of these houses, which had to be razed following irreparable damages caused due to the metro works. | Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in KolkataAt the outset of the meeting, Hakim expressed concern for the displaced Bowbazar residents. "We share the agony through which the displaced Bowbazar residents have been going. We are trying our best to cooperate with the KMRC in rebuilding the houses that were destroyed by the major cave-in. Given the size of the buildings, the KMRC should wrap up the constructions in the next nine months," he said. Sources said KMC had sanctioned the plan for these buildings in Sep last year based on the proposal sent by KMRC. Hakim also said the KMC engineers will visit the reconstruction site to take stock of the construction progress once every three months. The civic body will also appoint a team of technical experts from JU that will monitor the health of the buildings as the East-West Metro now passes through the Bowbazar neighbourhoods. "We have asked the KMRC to compensate for any kind of damage to the structures in the Bowbazar cave-in zone for the next 10 years," said Hakim. On Friday, Biswarup Dey, a Trinamool councillor in Bowbazar, had raised the issue over the apparent delay in the reconstruction process while addressing the KMC House. Dey had highlighted the plight of the homeless Bowbazar residents. "There is apprehension among residents that there could again be a disaster as the metro has started running. I would request the Mayor to see that a monitoring cell is set up which will monitor the reconstruction process and the safety of other adjacent buildings," he had mentioned. On Aug 31, 2019, a tunnel boring machine had hit an aquifer while digging an East-West Metro tunnel. Two more cave-ins had occurred in May and Oct, 2022.