KOLKATA: In its spree to improve infrastructure in the township, the New Town Kolkata Development authority
(NKDA) has decided to tighten security arrangements in Rajarhat. The
administrative body has made amendments in the building rules, making
installation of closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) and security alarms
compulsory for all buildings constructed on plots having an area of one
acre and above.

The authorities are conducting a fresh review to
take into count the number of highrises that have CCTVs and security
alarms installed. Hidco chairman cum managing director Debashis Sen said earlier there was already a provision of installing such security devices, but it was not mandatory.

“The amendment has been made in the New Town Kolkata (building) Rules
1999. The rule states that it is compulsory where it has been made
compulsory for all buildings in Rajarhat-New Town – that have come up or
will be constructed on a plot of one acre and above – to set up CCTVs
and security alarms. This has been done keeping in mind the safety and
security of the residentsand those who are coming up,” Sen said.

Concerned over tightening up security arrangements in Rajarhat New
Town, the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has made
amendments in its building rules, making it compulsory to install closed
circuit television (CCTV) and security alarms for all buildings
constructed on plots having a size of one acre and above in Rajarhat New
Town. The authorities have started conducting a fresh inspection and
review as to presently how many highrise buildings have installed CCTVs
and security alarms.

Hidco chairman cum managing director
Debashis Sen said that there was already a provision of installing such
security devices but it was not mandatory. “The amendment was done in
the New Town Kolkata (building) rules 1999 where it has been made
compulsory to install CCTVs and security alarms in all buildings in
Rajarhat New Town set up on a plot of one acre and above. This has been
done keeping in mind the safety and security of the residents and those
who are coming up,” Sen said.

Recently, Sen held a review
meeting with NKDA officers where it was found that CCTVs and security
alarms are installed in only about a dozen of bulk housings or
commercial institutions situated in the area. Rajarhat New Town so far.

This apart, all the major big residential housing apartments in New
Town have their own security arrangements, including having private
security guards at the gates and security and fire alarms. However,
several cooperative and other residential flats and commercial
institutions on small plots of one or two acre that are under
construction are yet to adhere to the security measures. coming up and
many more are slated to come up soon and many of these buildings are yet
to have such CCTVs or security alarms in place yet.

Officials
said the provision of installing CCTV and security alarms is verified
while giving occupancy certificates. The commissioner of Bidhannagar police commissionerate, Rajeev Kumar,
said they have instructed given instructions for all developers in
Rajarhat-New Town to furnish them with the details of security
arrangements before getting a clearance.

The police have also
stepped up mobile security after a few incidents of crime were reported
in the area. Though no spine-chilling murder or robbery has occurred in
any of the existing residential housing complexes so far, the roads in
Rajarhat – particularly towards Action Area II and III – become very
unsafe after sun down, especially for the women. Some time back, a woman
was allegedly raped inside a car in the night at Rajarhat after she was
picked up by some miscreants from the city