After more than four years of the first round of cracks and crevices, residents of the subsidence zone in Bowbazar are seeing new rays of hope.
A ‘bhoomi pujan ceremony’ at the site of the cave-ins is to be held Sunday before kicking off the reconstruction of the 27-odd structures that were severely damaged during the Metro works of the East-West Corridor.
The event is said to have been organised by the Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation Limited (KMRCL), which is the implementing agency of the East-West project at this site. After three mishaps in the zone, the KMRCL authorities have organised the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony before proceeding with the reconstruction work. Unwilling to leave any stones unturned to kick off the reconstruction work on a positive note, the authorities are said to have invited around 1,200 local residents who were affected by the cave-ins.
Notably, the KMRCL is gearing up to start the reconstruction of the affected buildings in Bowbazar from the month of April. For this, the building plan and tendering process are said to have been completed, according to local residents. Simultaneously, the implementing agency is also carrying out the repairing works of a few structures. As informed by the city metro railway office, the damaged house of 6B Durga Pithuri Lane has been repaired and handed over to the owners while repairing works of two houses at 19/1A Durga Pithuri Lane and 12 Madan Dutta Lane are being carried out. With almost 70 percent of the repairing works of these two houses getting completed, the authorities are expecting to hand over the premises to their owners soon. In addition, the house at 1/4, Durga Pithuri Lane is said to have started while that of 19, Durga Pithuri Lane is to kick off next month, according to the residents.