Officials from the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRCL) encountered protests from Bowbazar residents on Sunday, who asserted that they had not yet received compensation three years after their homes were damaged during the metro project work in 2019. The officials, visiting a campsite established for those recently relocated due to house cracks in Bowbazar’s Madan Dutta Lane, faced agitation from protesters. Over the past few days, 183 individuals from nearly a dozen houses in Madan Dutta Lane have been relocated, and the camp was established to address the grievances of those affected.
Protesters urged the appointment of a representative to listen to their concerns and address them properly. KMRCL General Manager AK Nandy assured that they had heard the protesters and would convey their concerns to higher authorities.
Madan Dutta Lane marks the third instance of houses developing cracks in Bowbazar due to the metro project, featuring an underwater tunnel across the Hooghly River, India’s first. The East-West Metro will link Sector V in Salt Lake to Howrah Maidan via the underwater tunnel.
Meanwhile, local councillor Biswaroop Dey allegedly assaulted a worker from a company responsible for providing food to affected residents relocated to hotels as directed by the government. The incident occurred after the owner of a cracked hotel complained of being denied food at the camp. Dey explained that the hotel owner, who had returned from Odisha, was refused entry due to the cracks in the building. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury criticized the TMC government as “insensitive,” holding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responsible for the suffering caused by her decisions. TMC leader Sougata Roy acknowledged technical issues but emphasized the need to identify and rectify problems, stating that the project couldn’t be halted due to some damaged houses.