The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has introduced a new mandate. Real estate promoters are now required to prominently display detailed information about under-construction buildings at the project sites.
These boards must list crucial details such as the sanctioned building plan numbers, names of the architect or licensed building surveyor (LBS), and the height of the building.
This move follows an increasing number of incidents where flat buyers have fallen victim to fraudulent promoters who deviate from approved building plans. Such discrepancies often lead to delays or halting of construction once the KMC issues stop-work orders, putting the buyers at risk. To prevent this, the civic body has taken a proactive stance, instructing borough-level engineers to monitor construction sites and issue stop-work notices where the rule is not being followed. Borough-level officials have been tasked with conducting a thorough survey of all under-construction or near-completion buildings to ensure the display boards are not only installed but also clearly visible from a distance. This mandate is seen as a necessary step towards safeguarding potential homebuyers from deceitful practices that could leave them facing significant financial and legal challenges.
A senior official from the KMC’s buildings department explained that the measure, which originated from the mayor’s office, is designed to instill confidence among flat buyers. By ensuring that the sanctioned plans and relevant project details are displayed, prospective buyers will have access to verified information about the construction they are investing in.
“The primary aim is to provide transparency. When buyers are able to see that the project is being built as per the approved plans, it will boost their confidence,” said the official, who requested anonymity. “The display boards will also make it easier for our engineers to identify construction sites where the regulations are not being adhered to.”
However, the implementation of this directive could face challenges. It is common knowledge that building department officials rarely inspect illegal construction zones, especially in wards where the situation can be confrontational. But with the mandatory display boards, identifying non-compliant buildings should become much easier. The officials now have a clear visual reference to flag any violations, which will be crucial in ensuring that construction projects remain above board.
Despite these intentions, some critics argue that the KMC should have ensured that the ground-level situation was thoroughly assessed before implementing such a rule. A local resident and member of a prominent neighbourhood association raised concerns about the capacity of KMC’s enforcement mechanisms. “The KMC should have first ensured proper implementation of building rules in wards where illegal constructions are rampant,” the resident said. “Simply displaying information on a board may not be enough if enforcement at the ground level is lacking.”
In response to these concerns, borough engineers have been instructed to work closely with local police stations to ensure that the staff involved in issuing stop-work notices receive necessary protection, particularly in areas where construction is contentious. “The process of monitoring and enforcing these rules will require cooperation between various city departments and authorities,” an official said.
For the time being, the KMC remains optimistic that this initiative will bring much-needed clarity to the often murky world of real estate development in Kolkata. By ensuring that promoters adhere to a visible, standardized format for displaying construction details, the KMC hopes to foster a more transparent and accountable construction environment that will ultimately benefit the city’s residents.
KMC Mandates Display of Construction Details to Safeguard Flat Buyers
