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A**Background:**
I am a resident of a building located directly adjacent to an ongoing Metro Rail construction project in Kolkata, owned by **RVNL** and executed by **AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd**. The distance between my apartment building and the community boundary wall is approximately **6 meters**, with the metro pillar being constructed an additional **5 meters beyond the boundary**. In total, our building lies **less than 20 meters** from the construction zone. While there are other buildings in the residential complex, they are situated at distances of **80 meters or more** and are not as critically affected.
**Concerns and Developments So Far:**
Despite the proximity and potential risks during construction and operations, the residents of the two most vulnerable buildings (ours included) were **excluded from key stakeholder meetings** conducted by RVNL and AFCONS. We were only informed **a month after the meeting occurred**, and shared meeting notes made **no reference to our buildings or specific mitigation measures** related to them.
When we raised concerns and formally requested documentation—specifically:
* Safety assessments
* Impact analysis on nearby structures
* Mitigation and damage-prevention strategies
* Design responsibility and accountability in case of structural impact—we were given vague verbal assurances that “necessary tests have been conducted” and “residents will not be impacted due to best-in-class design.” However, **no test reports or written confirmations** were provided despite repeated follow-ups. This lack of transparency has only heightened anxiety among residents.
Furthermore, we have also noticed **frequent violations of basic construction safety and environmental norms**, such as:
* Absence of dust suppression measures (e.g., water sprinkling)
* Lack of proper screening and covering of materials
* Noise and pollution beyond tolerable limitsThese issues, compounded by the lack of documentation or formal communication, have created a deep sense of unease among affected residents.
# Request for Information:
As a citizen and directly impacted resident, I would like to understand:
1. **What specific documents am I entitled to request** from RVNL, AFCONS, or other relevant authorities to ensure structural safety, accountability, and compliance with environmental norms?
2. **Which departments or regulatory bodies** can I approach for intervention, information, or resolution, especially when the executing agencies are unresponsive?
3. Are there **formal grievance redressal mechanisms** (such as through the Ministry of Railways, Urban Development Department, Pollution Control Board, or District Administration) for situations where due diligence and transparency are lacking?Despite repeated attempts to contact both RVNL and AFCONS directly, no actionable support has been provided so far.
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