Kolkata, 07 August (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has formally initiated the delimitation of wards under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), issuing a notification on Friday proposing an increase in the number of wards from the existing 144 to 209.

The notification, issued by the Department of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, provides detailed descriptions of the proposed boundaries and areas falling under each ward. It also invites objections and suggestions from members of the public and organisations within the stipulated period before the proposal is finalised.

According to the state government, the exercise has been undertaken to address the wide disparity in the size and voter population of existing wards. While some wards have significantly larger populations and geographical areas than others, all councillors currently receive similar financial allocations, resulting in an imbalance in the delivery of civic services and development works.

Under the proposed delimitation, several existing wards will cease to exist, with some being merged and others reorganised into two or more new wards. The government aims to ensure that each ward has an average population or electorate of 10,000 to 11,000, while also reducing the number of polling stations in each ward to improve administrative efficiency.

The notification states that any objections or representations regarding the proposed ward boundaries may be submitted within the prescribed timeframe. The government will examine the objections over the next one to one-and-a-half weeks before forwarding the proposal to the State Legislative Assembly for approval. Following legislative clearance, the proposal will be sent to the Governor for final approval.

Municipal sources said the restructuring may also lead to an increase in the number of borough offices from the current 16 to between 20 and 25, with the objective of strengthening civic administration across the city.

State Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Pal said the existing ward structure has created administrative disparities, with some wards being geographically extensive while others are comparatively small despite receiving equal financial allocations. She said the proposed delimitation is intended to ensure more balanced governance and equitable development across all parts of Kolkata.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh