Kolkata West International City

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Kolkata West International City
Kolkata West gate.jpg
Kolkata West International gateway
Kolkata West.JPG
Area
  Total153 ha (378 acres)
Population
  Total~30,000 [1]
Website https://kolkatawest.in/

Kolkata West International City is a satellite township development of Kolkata, located at Salap [2] in Howrah district. The project is under construction in the form of a joint-venture between KMDA and Singapore-based conglomerate [3] Universal Success Group (USEL). [4]

Contents

Project

Kolkata West International City (KWIC) is India’s first Foreign Direct Investment in real estate and township development. It is a satellite township development of Kolkata, located at Salap in Howrah district. The project is a joint venture between KMDA and USEL. The project is a 372-acre mixed-use development with residential, commercial, institutional and recreational segments. Overall developable area of 41 million square feet and developments currently spread over 6 million sq ft in the township.

The project was one of the largest foreign direct investments in township projects in India [5] and the first in West Bengal. [6] The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority acquired a 390-acre plot beside the Kona Expressway at Salap [7] and handed it over to the consortium along with sub-leasing rights. [8] It was unveiled by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, on 15 February 2006 and was expected to comprise about 11,000 apartments (flats/villas) to house nearly 36,000 people. [4]

The first phase of the project was to span across 82 acres with the flats being priced between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 80 lakh. [8] There were further plans to set up dedicated power stations, sports facilities, IT parks, entertainment zones, hospitals and schools. [4] The first 450 units were to be sold over by December 2007 and the entire project, comprising five phases, [9] was expected to be completed and delivered by 2010. [4]

Connectivity

Rail

Metro

Air

By Road

Existing Neighbourhood

Educational Institutions

Business Centres

Entertainment Zones

Healthcare Facilities

Opposition

Residents of Howrah, including the former deputy mayor of the Howrah Municipal Corporation, initially demanded that the word "Kolkata" be replaced with "Howrah" in the township's name. They alleged that it would mislead potential land owners into thinking that KWIC was in Kolkata, when it was actually in Howrah. [10]

The project also faced criticism over its water supply. Howrah Municipal Corporation agreed to supply 2 million gallons of water per day to the project, despite its inability to sustain a proper water supply to all of its constituents. [11]

Delays

The developers have missed numerous deadlines since 2008. Less than half of the first phase work was completed by 2013, when it should have been completed by 2008. [3] [8] Salim Group and Ciputra Development went away soon after missing the first deadline. [12]

The buyers have since formed an association (Kolkata West Buyers' Welfare Association) to protest against the delays. A few flats were eventually provided with completion certificates from 2011 and onwards [9] [13] but were allegedly far from complete and constructed in a sub-optimal fashion. [8]

Multiple protests have been held since 2011. [3] [9] [13] [14] [15] [16] In July 2011, Abhay Mohan Jha of HIMAL Southasian, made a visit to the proposed township and found it to be a desolated and uninhabited place, that resembled a cemetery. After being prohibited from entering the property, he visited the project-office in Chowringhee to find about 200 investors in a dharna , who despite having paid in full, were unable to move in, due to lack of any infrastructure. [6] Work progressed at a very slow pace and whilst more houses were eventually constructed, some of them were lacking connecting roads. [17] The Association also protested by writing to West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. [18] [19]

Universal Success Group blamed the delayed processing of certain approvals from various regulatory bodies such as KMDA. [9] KMDA denied the allegations and claimed the group was not transparent when they queried it about the reasons behind such extraordinary delays. [9]

The Association has also filed a case against Kolkata West with the Competition Commission of India. [20] Some homeowners also filed individual lawsuits demanding a refund. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howrah</span> Metropolis in West Bengal

Howrah is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, opposite its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively Howrah lies within Howrah district, and is the headquarters of the Howrah Sadar subdivision. Howrah is an important industrial and transportation hub, and is also a gateway to Kolkata via Howrah railway station and Howrah Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shibpur</span> Neighbourhood in Howrah in West Bengal, India

Shibpur or Sibpur is a neighbourhood in Howrah city of Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belur, West Bengal</span> Neighbourhood in Howrah in West Bengal, India

Belur is a neighbourhood in northern part of Howrah city in Howrah district, West Bengal, India. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). The area is best known for Belur Math, a religious monastery containing a complex of temples. Belur Math is famous for being the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math, a monastic order, as well as that of the related Ramakrishna Mission, both founded by Swami Vivekananda. On the opposite side of the Hooghly River, opposite to Belur Math is the Dakshineswar Kali Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodepur</span> Neighbourhood in Greater Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Sodepur or Sodpur is a locality in Panihati Municipality of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is close to Kolkata and also a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Barrackpore, Kamarhati, Dumdum, Agarpara, and Belghoria are all close by. It is a centre for rising residential construction. GM Meena Icon, Peerless Nagar, Merlin Maximus, Godrej Prakriti, and NPR Gitanjali Apartments are a few notable residential developments in the neighbourhood.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamarhati</span> City in West Bengal, India

Kamarhati is a city and a municipality of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baranagar</span> City in West Bengal, India

Baranagar or Barahanagar
is a city and a municipality in Kolkata Metropolitan Area of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Baranagar is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in North Kolkata region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority</span>

Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is the statutory planning and development authority for the Kolkata metropolitan area in the Indian state of West Bengal. The organisation used to be known as Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and retains the previous logo. KMDA is functioning under the administrative control of Department of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs of Government of West Bengal.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bansberia</span> City in West Bengal, India

Bansberia is a city and a municipality of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is about 45 km (28 mi) away from Kolkata, at the western end of the Iswar Gupta Setu (Kalyani-Bansberia) Bridge. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). Bans Beria railway station is 4 km from Bandel Junction on the Bandel-Katwa Line.The area covered by two police stations - Chinsurah (W.no.1-4) and Mogra (W.no.5-22). The part of both Police Stations governed by Chandannagar Police Commissionerate. Very good and innocent people live here so, The criminal reports are very few in this city. It is the "Peaceful City" of Hooghly District. Kartik Puja is the famous festival of Bansberia.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salap</span> Census Town in West Bengal, India

Salap is a census town in Domjur CD Block of Howrah Sadar subdivision in Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tentulkuli</span> Census Town in West Bengal, India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belgharia</span> Neighbourhood in West Bengal, India

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References

  1. https://www.kolkatawestinternational.com/ [ bare URL ]
  2. "Kolkata West International City".
  3. 1 2 3 "Bungalow buyers in a bind". The Telegraph. Kolkata, India. 3 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Saha, Subhro (14 April 2006). "West wake-up - A sprawling satellite township that promises a slew of facilities and can house 36,000 people may change the face of Howrah". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  5. Chattopadhya, Suhrid Sankar. "Focus: West Bengal". Changing Phase. Frontline, Vol 24, Issue 2, 27 Jan–9 Feb 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  6. 1 2 Jha, Abhay Mohan (July 2011). "Herey Chhe". Lalitpur, Nepal: The Himal, July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  7. "NRI Buyers Protesr Delay".
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  10. Mukherjee, Mita (10 January 2007). "Howrah Cry to alter name". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  11. "The Statesman". 29 September 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  12. Mitra, Dola (17 November 2016). "Keep An Ear Out For Whispers". Outlook. India. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Delayed project: Buyers of posh housing complex threaten stir". Kolkata, India: Business Line, 28 May 2011. June 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  14. Service, Statesman News (September 2013). "Buyers demand allotment of flats". Kolkata, India: The Statesman, 25 September 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  15. Banerjee, Arindam (June 2011). "Bungalows paid for, not delivered". Kolkata, India: The Indian Express, 20 June 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  16. "CJ exposes land scam in West Bengal". Kolkata, India: CNN-IBN, 8 June 2011. June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  17. Object, object (6 March 2018). "KWIC buyers welfare body seeks CM's intervention over unfinished project". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  18. Goswami, Tarun (June 2011). "Don't give Nayachar project to Prasun: Kolkata West buyers tell Mamata". Kolkata, India: The Statesman, 27 June 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  19. Basu, Manish (May 2011). "Kolkata West homebuyers seek Bengal CM's intervention in row". Kolkata, India: Mint, 20 May 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  20. Mazumdar, Jharna (August 2011). "Conflict zone". Kolkata, India: Financial Chronicle, 24 August 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  21. "Kolkata West International City Pvt Ltd vs Devasis Rudra". kanoon. Retrieved 12 February 2024.