Kolkata: The KMC municipal building committee (MBC) met on Saturday after a gap of over eight months and cleared all pending building proposals for projects below 40 m, or up to 10 storeys, providing a significant boost to the real estate sector in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal.KMC’s administrator and commissioner Smita Pandey presided over Saturday’s meeting. “We have made the presence of structural engineers of projects mandatory during MBC meetings,” she told TOI.MBC clears construction plans for large realty projects, ones coming up on areas of over 500 sq m or 7.5 cottah. Plans for buildings taller than 15.5 m, usually the height of a G+4 building, need the approval of MBC as do that of non-residential structures. Smaller structures are approved by executive engineers of the respective boroughs of KMC.An realty industry insider said every project under the 40-m or 131-ft mark, the application of which was with the committee, was cleared at the meeting. The clearances are expected to revive construction activity at a time when the industry has seen virtually no new launche in Kolkata or other parts of Bengal for several months.Developers and industry bodies welcomed the move. Officials of Credai said the clearance of lower-height projects had raised hopes that another MBC meeting would soon be convened to consider applications for taller buildings stuck in the approval pipeline.Real estate companies also expressed optimism that KMC’s decision would encourage other civic bodies and planning authorities to resume scrutiny of pending applications. Several proposals have been awaiting clearance for months across multiple jurisdictions, delaying launches and investments.An industry insider said nearly 1 crore sq ft of proposed development, with an estimated value of around Rs 5,000 crore, awaited approval from various agencies, such as NDITA, NKDA and BMC. An official added that no new project had been cleared in New Town, Rajarhat and Bidhannagar, areas that emerged as some of Bengal’s most active real estate markets in recent years. The delay affected both residential and commercial projects, holding back developers, contractors and ancillary businesses.
