Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Firhad Hakim has directed the buildings department to relax building regulations for plots ranging from 500 sq ft to 2,200 sq ft. This initiative seeks to enable owners to construct homes legally without resorting to unauthorised building practices.
The policy change extends to thika land plots as well, aiming to bring these under formal construction norms. This adjustment in regulations is expected to simplify the process for small plot owners, allowing them to develop their properties within legal frameworks and thus ensuring safer and more compliant construction practices. Mayor Hakim has instructed officials to initiate a ward-wise awareness campaign to inform citizens about the new building rules. This proactive step is intended to ensure that residents are fully aware of their rights and the new opportunities available to them under the revised guidelines.
During his address, Mayor also criticised dishonest real estate promoters who engage in unsafe construction practices, disregarding the safety of the residents. He urged the senior officials of the buildings department to file FIRs against such unscrupulous developers, emphasising the administration’s commitment to maintaining safety and regulatory compliance in the city’s real estate sector.
This regulatory easing is a significant step towards facilitating legal home construction for small plot owners in Kolkata, promoting safer building practices, and enhancing overall urban development. The KMC’s focus on transparency and legal adherence is expected to foster a more secure and orderly growth environment in the city.
An official said, “Citizens, who are afraid of adhering to rules and don’t want to part with their land due to its small size, land in trouble as these buildings are constructed in absence of a structural engineer’s watch. There is a possibility that promoters may take advantage of this by using inferior construction materials.”
