Kolkata complexes plan upgrade to plug security loopholes

KOLKATA: The shootout at Shukhobrishti Complex on Wednesday has exposed several chinks in the security arrangements of housing complexes across the city, some of which have bolstered and modernized their plans over the last few years.
Prominent condominiums, like Urbana and South City, have upgraded security measures and keep in touch with local police stations to screen residents and visitors for the last few years.At South City, the steps followed a spate of suicides while at Urbana, Gujarat Police had tracked a financial offender in 2018. However, several complexes in New Town are yet to implement stringent screening apart from just informing the local cops whenever a new tenant comes in. Some of these complexes are now contemplating a security upgrade.
Director of Urbana Facility Management Debjani Mookherjee told TOI, “If somebody wants to rent out a flat, the authority asks for two local references who can be traced, apart from the KYC and other details. We get the KYC stamped by the cops and keep in touch with the references.”
The president of South City Apartment Owners’ Association, Manak Daga, said the property consultant firm JLL looks after facilities there. But if a flat is to be rented out, a board formed by the owners screens the tenants after informing the local cops. Daga said the association will meet on Friday to consider stepping up the security.
The managing director of JLL (east) Surekha Bihani, which manages facilities of complexes, like Uniworld and DLF (Action Area III), apart from South City, said they take declarations from owners and tenants and submit the KYC to the police station. “We issue security passes for tenants which have to be shown during entry,” she said.
The president of New Town Heights Apartment Owners’ Association, N Mandal, said they are planning to follow the South City model of setting up an interview panel to screen tenants. Secretary of Kolkata Uniworld City Apartment Owners’ Association Anjan Sen said they have a standard form for tenants that has to be submitted to the police station. “But in most cases, the owner does not know who the tenant is.”