Kolkata civic panel meets after eight months, clears 15 realty projects under 40 m

Kolkata Municipal Corporation's building committee convened on Saturday after an eight-month hiatus, approving all pending proposals for projects below 40 metres (10 storeys). The move is expected to revive stalled construction activity in Kolkata and surrounding areas, with developers hopeful of fu

Kolkata Municipal Corporation's (KMC) municipal building committee (MBC) met on Saturday after a gap of over eight months and cleared all pending building proposals for projects below 40 m, or up to 10 storeys, providing a significant boost to the real estate sector in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal.

KMC's administrator and commissioner Smita Pandey presided over Saturday's meeting. "We have made the presence of structural engineers of projects mandatory during MBC meetings," she told TOI.

MBC clears construction plans for large realty projects, those coming up on areas of over 500 sq m (7.5 cottah). Plans for buildings taller than 15.5 m, usually the height of a G+4 building, need the approval of MBC, as do non-residential structures. Smaller structures are approved by executive engineers of the respective boroughs of KMC.

An industry insider said every project under the 40 m (131 ft) mark whose application was with the committee was cleared at the meeting. The clearances are expected to revive construction activity at a time when the industry has seen virtually no new launches in Kolkata or other parts of Bengal for several months.

Developers and industry bodies welcomed the move. Officials of Credai said the clearance of lower-height projects had raised hopes that another MBC meeting would soon be convened to consider applications for taller buildings stuck in the approval pipeline. Real estate companies also expressed optimism that KMC's decision would encourage other civic bodies and planning authorities to resume scrutiny of pending applications.

Several proposals have been awaiting clearance for months across multiple jurisdictions, delaying launches and investments. Areas such as New Town, Rajarhat and Bidhannagar, which emerged as some of Bengal's most active real estate markets in recent years, have been affected. The delay held back residential and commercial projects, impacting developers, contractors and ancillary businesses.