12 Kolkata: The demolition of the G+3 building in Baghajatin that had tilted dangerously and come to rest precariously on the boundary wall with the top floors hanging over the one-storied building in the adjoining plot two months ago has been completed. Similarly, the fifth floor of another tilted G+4 structure on Christopher Road in Tangra that had caused the adjoining building to tilt has also been pulled down.
A Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) buildings department source indicates they are waiting for a structural engineer's assessment before deciding on whether to let the building be or pull down the entire structure.
"We are awaiting a report from a structural engineer who will tell us whether we need to proceed with the demolition of other floors of the building," said a civic official. The KMC might consider partial demolition of the fourth floor to safeguard the adjacent building.
In Baghajatin, residents of the building that has been pulled down are now waiting for KMC to provide temporary accommodation as previously promised before they consider incentives to get a new building constructed on the just-vacated plot. Over the next few days, the rubble and debris from the demolition will be removed at the site. The precarious structure in the populated area required three demolition agencies to work in coordination. "It was precision work and a simple error could have ended in a catastrophe. We had asked the supervisors of the agencies to exercise extreme caution as we didn't want the demolition work to endanger an adjoining building," explained a KMC buildings department official.
The supervisor from the private agency responsible for demolishing the structure, which was precariously positioned against two adjacent buildings, explained that the extended timeline was necessary for neighbouring residents' safety.
"It's a densely populated neighbourhood where some apartment buildings have been constructed without keeping mandatory open space. So we couldn't take chances in razing the building in a hurry," the supervisor noted. Speaking to TOI, resident Anirban Maity, who acquired his second-floor flat last year, expressed his dependence on KMC's assistance for accommodation. "I had purchased the flat a year ago and needed to repay the bank loan. I need to pay EMIs every month. In addition to that, I have taken a house on rent in the para (locality). So it will be of great help to me if the KMC arranges makeshift homes for us," said Maity.
A KMC representative confirmed the mayor's directive to construct basic single-room dwellings as a temporary solution for displaced flat owners. "We are waiting for the demolition work to stop. Then we will take up the construction work for the homeless flat owners," the civic official stated.