West Bengal Suspends Construction Projects for Four Weeks, Orders Comprehensive Audit

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a four-week suspension of construction activities not only within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) area but also across Rajarhat, Sonarpur, Baruipur and Maheshtala. The decision follows concerns over building safety and regulatory compliance.

The Chief Minister said all ongoing construction projects in these areas will undergo a comprehensive audit by a high-level committee headed by IAS officer Rajesh Pandey. Other members include Rajesh Sinha, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda, KMC Administrator Smita Pandey, Rachana Bhagat, Director General (Buildings), and Professor Damodar Maity of IIT Kharagpur.

Reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance policy, Adhikari stated that all building plans allegedly sanctioned through the payment of “cut money” during the previous Trinamool Congress regime would be subjected to detailed scrutiny and investigation.