83 rooftop restaurants across Kolkata pass in fire safety audit, says Mayor Firhad

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has announced major administrative changes and safety updates aimed at improving citizen services and public safety. In a significant relief for food enthusiasts, the Mayor revealed that a comprehensive fire audit of 83 rooftop restaurants and clubs across the city has been completed, with all establishments found to be compliant with safety standards. To maintain this, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has requested the Fire Department to issue SOP notices and conduct regular inspections to prevent any future hazards.

In a move to simplify bureaucracy, the Mayor announced that residential and domicile certificates will no longer be issued from the Town Hall. Instead, these services have been shifted to the KMC Headquarters. Citizens can now submit their applications directly at their local Borough Offices. In a compassionate gesture towards senior citizens, the Mayor promised that municipal staff would visit the homes of the elderly to deliver these certificates, saving them from the hassle of visiting government offices.

To address the long-standing delays in obtaining birth and death certificates, 20 additional service counters have been set up at the KMC Headquarters. While residents can still apply for these documents at their respective Borough Offices, the final certificates will now be issued centrally from the headquarters to ensure better data management and authenticity. This expansion is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and overcrowding at municipal offices.

Mayor Hakim emphasized that these steps are part of a larger initiative to make the municipal corporation more "people-centric." By decentralizing the application process through borough offices and centralizing the issuance for better oversight, the KMC aims to balance convenience with administrative efficiency. The inclusion of doorstep delivery for the elderly reflects the city's commitment to inclusive governance and social responsibility.