Kolkata Metro Displacement Leaves Over Thousand Residents Awaiting Rehabilitation
Kolkata is celebrating its expanding metro network, but for hundreds of families in the northern parts of the city, the project has meant years of uncertainty, damaged homes and a disrupted community life. Displacement triggered by tunnelling work continues to leave more than 1,000 residents without permanent shelter.
Officials confirmed that entire neighbourhoods in areas such as Durga Pithuri Lane and Shyakra Para Lane were destabilised by structural collapses linked to metro construction. More than 50 houses were damaged, with several completely demolished. While some repair works have been attempted, dozens of families remain in temporary housing, awaiting rehabilitation.
Residents recall being evacuated at short notice, first in 2019 when deep cracks appeared in walls and ceilings. Temporary hotels soon became long-term shelters, followed by years of rented accommodation funded only partly by metro authorities. For many, these constant moves coincided with critical family milestones school board examinations, higher education, and elderly care. Officials and urban experts acknowledge that the psychological toll has been severe, with stress and anxiety compounding the challenges of displacement.
The cultural disruption has been equally profound. Northern Kolkata is known for its ‘para’ culture close-knit neighbourhoods that thrive on shared traditions and collective identity. Forced relocation scattered communities, eroding social bonds that had existed for decades. Experts on urban resilience warn that infrastructure projects must not only focus on speed and connectivity but also safeguard the social fabric of cities.
In some cases, health consequences have been devastating. Families reported that older residents, unused to leaving ancestral homes, suffered health decline under the strain of dislocation. Concerns over water leakage, weakened beams and recurring cracks continue to plague partially repaired houses, leaving residents uncertain about whether they can safely return.While metro authorities have assured that rehabilitation will be completed by 2026, trust remains thin. Several residents highlight that initial promises of temporary displacement extended far beyond expectations, with some still paying rent out of pocket while waiting for official support. Urban planners argue that such projects reveal a critical gap in India’s infrastructure model the imbalance between rapid expansion and the human cost it extracts.
The Kolkata Metro project has undoubtedly brought faster connectivity and greener transport options for the city, a vital step towards reducing carbon emissions. Yet the story unfolding in the north underscores the need for sustainable development models that are equitable and inclusive. Infrastructure, experts say, cannot be celebrated if the most vulnerable citizens are left without homes or dignity.For the displaced families, 2026 feels both close and painfully distant. Until then, Kolkata’s march towards modernisation remains a tale of progress shadowed by deep personal loss.
