CM Suvendu Adhikari announced that Kolkata will join the national Water Metro project (Kochi model) as the 18th city, providing fast, eco-friendly public transport across the Hooghly River. A total of 44 new jetties are planned, with 41 NOCs already received. The project is part of broader urban decongestion and riverfront development efforts.
Eastern Railway, GRP, and RPF executed an overnight eviction drive at Dum Dum Junction late on May 30, 2026, dismantling hawkers' kiosks across platforms 1 to 4. This follows similar anti-encroachment drives conducted at Sealdah and Howrah stations on May 16, 2026, to clear suburban platforms and approach roads of illegal stalls.
Executed in coordination with local police and central forces, the operations cleared over 100 long-standing stalls. The clearances aimed to resolve chronic pedestrian congestion, improve security, and restore passenger access corridors at these busy transit hubs.
The CPM-backed West Bengal Railway Hawkers' Union (CITU) led protests near Sealdah and Dum Dum stations against the sudden evictions, demanding extensions and rehabilitation. Demonstrators highlighted extreme distress, including suicide concerns due to lost livelihoods. Police deployed a lathi-charge at Dum Dum to disperse crowd resistance.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) launched a sweeping bulldozer crackdown against illegal multi-storeyed constructions across Tiljala, Beleghata, and Kasba.
Backed by police and central forces, civic teams targeted buildings violating fire safety and municipal rules, including a seven-storey structure in Tiljala and properties linked to local politicians.
Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul visited the demolition sites to oversee operations. She emphasized the administration's zero-tolerance stance towards unauthorized constructions and corrupt patronage.
A joint eviction drive by railway authorities, RPF, GRP, and Howrah City Police demolished over 150 illegal shops and makeshift structures outside Howrah Station to clear chronic land encroachment and pedestrian congestion.
While passenger associations welcomed the decongestion, affected hawkers protested the move, alleging they received only a one-day notice with no prior rehabilitation plans.
⚖️ Public Accountability & Permanent Record: This page serves as a long-term historical record. Even after a promise is marked as "Fulfilled," we will continue to post new updates here to track any policy reversals or the long-term efficacy of the scheme on the ground. Any future lapses in implementation will be documented here.