KMC highrise to replace Roxy cinema

KOLKATA: The civic body will reclaim Roxy cinema and the adjoining building at 4A and 4B, Chowringhee Place, that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation had leased out to Bengal Properties Pvt Ltd (BPPL) nearly a century ago.



KMC sources said that while the theatre at 4B, Chowringhee Place, was still controlled by BPPL, the adjoining building at 4A has now been leased to another firm. Mayor Firhad Hakim on Tuesday asked director-general of several departments to initiate the process to take over the iconic building.

According to plans, the existing structure will be converted into a multi-storied building that will house several major KMC departments.

According to KMC records, the property was leased out to BPPL for 99 years in 1908-09. Even after the lease expired in 2007-08, BPPL continued to control the theatre and the adjoining building. KMC then asked it to vacate the property or pay up Rs 71.34 crore for extending the lease for another 99 years. When BPPL refused, KMC went to court. In August 2017, Calcutta High Court ruled that BPPL had to either pay the amount decided by KMC or vacate the premises, failing which KMC could declare those occupying the premises as “unauthorized occupants” and take action to vacate the buildings.

While implementing the order, it came to light that around 10,000sqft of prime property on 4A, Chowringhee Place, as well as part of 4B, Chowringhee Place, had been sub-leased to one Subhlabh Dealer Pvt Ltd (SDPL). But the latter has failed to submit any documents till date.

At a mayor-in-council meeting on Tuesday, it was decided that KMC would evict unauthorized occupants, including SDPL. KMC would then take possession of the vacated premises. However, the civic body may have to offer a rehabilitation package to some of the occupants who have some sort of legal status, a KMC market department official said.

In May 2018, when Sovan Chatterjee was the mayor, a suo motu resolution had been passed for KMC to enter into a fresh licence agreement with all occupants, except the previous lessee, in the twin properties. A year before that, all previous occupants were evicted and possession was reportedly taken over by an individual with political connection. A fifth floor was added to 4A Chowringhee Place and various floors of the building were subleased to SDPL thereafter.