KMC lifts bar on G+4 construction, high-rise safety-critical work
Times of India | 8 July 2026
Kolkata: In a major relief to owners and developers of buildings up to five storeys (G+4) as well as high-rise projects in the city, KMC on Tuesday remodified a notification issued on Friday and allowed all five-storey structures to resume construction and high-rise projects to complete safety-critical work without any rider.
All construction work has been put on hold since June 24 following the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Taratala, in which 16 people, most of them workers, died. The govt promptly halted constructions and announced a safety audit of all projects. One day later, the chief minister as well as the urban development minister clarified that buildings up to five storeys (G+4) were exempted from the construction ban.
However, a KMC notification, which was issued on June 26, put a blanket ban on all constructions, including of low-rise or G+4 buildings.
Following a spate of harassment complaints from owners, who said they were being unable to construct, repair or renovate buildings up to five storeys despite being outside the purview of the work suspension order, the KMC issued a fresh notification on Friday, July 3, exempting G+4 as well as those work that were critical to the safety of high-rise projects under construction from taking an NOC from the high-powered committee, constituted by the govt to check the safety of under-construction projects. However, it still required buildings in the exempted category to apply to the municipal commissioner’s office for approval to resume work.
With developers and builders pointing out that the clause amounted to red tape when completing the safety-critical work needed to be finished at the earliest due to the onset of monsoon, the KMC on Tuesday further amended the notification and did away with the need to seek the municipal commissioner’s approval.
Construction engineers said the safety-critical work included sheet piling, retaining structures, excavation stabilisation work, dewatering operations and bracing systems, where excavation had already started for basement construction and pile caps for deep or shallow foundations, in order to prevent soil collapse and safeguard adjoining properties. Also, all buildings up to five storeys with valid sanction plans can go ahead with construction, emergency maintenance and repairs.
A KMC buildings department official acknowledged that borough offices had been flooded with queries from owners of standalone, low-rise buildings as well as project developers and they passed on the concern to the higher-ups at the KMC headquarters.
Developers of big projects as well as structural engineers repeatedly pointed out that stopping such work mid-way could pose a safety threat. The Licensed Building Surveyors Association flagged concerns about the likelihood of excavation failure, foundation instability, collapse of unsupported earth faces and damage to adjoining buildings, roads and underground utilities if work that was in a critical stage of construction was not completed. "These exemptions are being provided to critical safety-related activities to ensure enforcement of safety measures at construction sites during the suspension period to prevent hazards at a construction site or neighbouring properties," a civic official said.
Credai West Bengal president Sushil Mohta welcomed the revision in the KMC notification, allowing renovation of existing buildings and also emergency work for safety of nearby structures and to prevent waterlogging.