Kolkata: Residents of at least 10 buildings at the Madan Datta in the Bowbazar area of Kolkata have been evacuated in the early hours of Friday as the buildings developed cracks allegedly due to the ongoing Metro Rail work in the area.
The terrified residents ran out of their houses with their necessary belongings fearing for their lives and accused the Metro Rail authorities of being responsible for their ordeal. "Residents of these houses located at Madan Dutta Lane were being shifted to nearby hotels, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) general manager (administration), AK Nandy said.
Later in the day when a team of senior Metro Rail officials visited the spot, the locals staged a protest demonstration against them. They even tried to prevent the Metro Rail officials from entering the area. The Metro Rail officials announced that compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to the affected people. If over 100 square feet area of a house is damaged then compensation of Rs 5 lakh will be awarded, Metro Rail officials said.
However, later in the day local Trinamool Congress (TMC) councilor Biswarup Dey claimed that the number of damaged houses has increased to at least 14. A large police contingent has been deployed at the spot.
A similar incident took place in 2019 at Durga Pithuri Lane in Bowbazar several buildings developed cracks due to Metro Rail work in the area leading to delays in the completion of the East-West metro project. Several residents were forced to flee from their homes. KMRC is the executing agency for the East-West metro project.
