62-storey building on Chowringhee Road: Kolkata gets tallest residential skyscraper

The Chowringhee project, called ‘The 42’, has derived its name from the address — 42, B Chowringhee Road — on which the complex will be built.

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The first four floors of the building will be used for parking of over 300 cars and other services. It is likely to be completed by 2017.

The plot once used to house a heritage building belonging to the Maharaja of Darbhanga. The current owners have acquired the plot after prolonged court battles.

When contacted, Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said the project has received necessary sanctions from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

“But I am not sure about defence clearances,” he added.

The Army, with the Eastern Command headquarters located at Fort William, has a say on properties in Kolkata’s Maidan area and its sanction is likely to be mandatory for the building to come up at Chowringhee.

All partners in the consortium will make a formal announcement about the project soon, said the promoters.

Sources said Mumbai-based Hafeez Contractor’s construction firm will execute the project. Already, 14 of the 62 storeys — the building will house 58 bungalows — have been constructed.

Each floor is likely to have an area of over 8,000 square feet. As of now, each flat is likely to be priced between Rs 16 crore to
Rs 20 crore.

The promoters have reportedly roped in major companies to design and execute the project. Both IIT-Mumbai and Callison Architects of the US are working on its design, said sources.

The promoters of Burj Khalifa in Dubai is also involved in the project.

Sources added that a 12-feet replica of the building will be showcased during the formal launch.

The promoters are also likely to release photographs taken from helicopters of landmarks — like Victoria Memorial, Maidan, Hooghly and Howrah Bridge — around the project site.