Kolkata hotel turns gas chamber: Mayor vows to demolish all illegal Rituraj structures

KOLKATA:

Mayor Firhad Hakim

on Wednesday vowed to demolish all illegal structures of

Rituraj Hotel

following the tragic loss of innocent lives.
Criticizing the hotel’s owner for negligence, he stated: “Our officials, fire department personnel, and police are investigating the case. The owner displayed numerous lapses in

fire prevention measures

. He violated the KMC building regulations. I assure you that no one found guilty will be spared.”

Sources from the KMC buildings department said Hakim is also investigating whether proper inspections were conducted to identify

illegal constructions

by the hotel owner.
The blaze that claimed 14 lives on Tuesday night has once again turned attention to Burrabazar, Kolkata’s most densely packed commercial hub, notorious for widespread illegal constructions and

fire safety violations

. Burrabazar has long been categorized as a “red zone” by the KMC, a tag used for areas with rampant unauthorized constructions and resistance to regulatory compliance.
This label, however, extends beyond Burrabazar to neighborhoods such as the Garden Reach-Metiabruz belt, Tiljala-Topsia belt, Rajabazar and specific areas along the EM Bypass. However, civic officials acknowledge that Burrabazar remains the most challenging and concerning among them all.
“This zone is regarded as one of the most dangerous among all illegal construction areas in the city,” said a senior KMC buildings department official. Several civic officials have described accessing the densely packed Burrabazar-Rabindra Sarani belt as “extremely challenging”.
The situation is often hostile. “We face threats in this zone. It’s well known that borough-level officials rarely venture here,” added a KMC official. “Last year, one of our colleagues attempted to intervene at a construction site but was threatened by goons associated with an influential developer. He never returned to the area,” he said.
The persistent hostility has fostered lawlessness in the area, enabling unchecked conversion of residential buildings into commercial establishments-most lacking firefighting infrastructure or civic approval.
“Over the years, there have been numerous fire incidents here. Lives were lost, businesses destroyed, yet little has changed,” said Abhijit Gupta, a former divisional officer of the fire department. “Each time a fire occurs, promises are made. But within days, it’s back to business as usual.”