KMC issues new guidelines to enable renovation of 650 heritage buildings and protect Kolkata’s legacy

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has introduced a new streamlined approval system aimed at easing the renovation and maintenance process for heritage-listed buildings across the city. The new procedure is expected to enable the restoration of approximately 650 heritage buildings that fall under categories allowing for partial modification and upgrades.

As per KMC records, there are currently over 1,400 heritage buildings in the city. These are divided into four categories: Grade-1 includes 717 buildings, Grade-2A includes 216, Grade-2B has 119, and Grade-3 accounts for around 330 structures. According to officials, changes are prohibited in Grade-1 buildings, but limited demolition, renovation, or extension is allowed in Grade-2A, 2B, and Grade-3 buildings with specific approvals.

A multi-stage approval mechanism has been established to address long-standing delays and legal challenges faced by property owners. Under the new system, applications will first be submitted to the Environment and Heritage Department. If approved, they move to the No Objection Certificate (NOC) stage, after which structural, floor, and elevation plans must be submitted to the Building Department for initial verification.

Following this, the proposal will be reviewed by the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), which will provide its recommendation to the Mayor-in-Council. A decision will then be taken in the Mayor-in-Council meeting, and the outcome will be communicated to the applicant. A set of approved drawings from the HCC will also be sent to the Building Department. Once all steps are completed, the Environment and Heritage Department will issue its final opinion, based on which renovation or construction can begin.

KMC has announced that this entire approval process will soon be digitised through its building plan approval module, making it accessible online. A municipal official stated, “Due to lack of maintenance, many traditional houses are on the verge of collapse.” In some instances, walls have been overrun by vegetation such as banyan trees, while structural weakening has made some buildings unsafe.

The new process also addresses issues faced by property owners who are unaware that their buildings fall under the heritage list or who face legal complications while trying to transfer such properties to promoters. The guidelines are designed to make the status of buildings clearer to owners and provide a defined path for carrying out renovations in compliance with heritage conservation norms.