A day following the evacuation of nearly 140 individuals from the Bowbazar area in Kolkata due to structural damage caused by the East-West Metro project’s tunnelling work, the state government has announced compensation for the affected families and shop owners. The government has decided to establish a help desk in collaboration with Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRCL) at Madan Dutta Lane to provide assistance.
Affected families will receive compensation of Rs 5 lakh each, while shop owners will be compensated for the loss of livelihood based on a formula supervised by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The compensation will be Rs 1.5 lakh for up to 100 sq ft and Rs 5 lakh for areas above 100 sq ft.
The decision was made during a meeting between state government officials and KMRCL, presided over virtually by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Nabanna state secretariat. The meeting, attended by Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, Chief Secretary Harikrishna Dwibedi, Home Secretary Bhagabati Prasad Gopalika, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, and KMC and KMRCL officials, addressed the subsidence and cracks in houses in the Bowbazar area.
Immediate arrangements are being made to shift affected families to safer locations, ensuring their food, health, and other needs are met. Special care will be provided for students, patients, and vulnerable individuals. Help desk camps will be organized to assist the affected people living in the 12 buildings, which currently house 28 families totaling 180 people.
The evacuated families are temporarily accommodated in hotels, with plans for their return or alternative housing. Buildings or shops deemed irreparable will be reconstructed, with KMRCL supervising and maintaining the structures for three years post-completion. Soil testing will be conducted to prevent future incidents, and advance information will be shared with Kolkata Police and KMC for precautionary measures during future construction work.
This evacuation is the third incident of houses developing cracks in Bowbazar due to metro project work, including India’s first underwater metro tunnel across the Hooghly river. The East-West Metro aims to connect Sector V in Salt Lake with Howrah Maidan. The KMRCL had previously halted construction work in 2019 and 2023 due to subsidence and cracks.