Kolkata: The real estate industry in Kolkata has urged the state govt to lift the embargo on high-rise construction projects immediately, arguing that the audit of projects in the city and adjoining districts can continue alongside regulated work at sites.Developers said they are prepared to submit formal undertakings confirming compliance with all statutory, structural and safety requirements so that stalled projects can restart without waiting indefinitely for clearances. While the deadline set by govt for completing the audit expires on Friday, only around 10% of the affected projects have so far been cleared for construction to resume.Construction was stopped at 344 under-construction high-rise projects in Kolkata and about 150 more in South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly after the June 24 Taratala warehouse collapse that killed 16 people. The restriction covered all under-construction residential buildings of G+5 and above.Industry representatives said the prolonged stoppage has begun to hurt homebuyers, contractors, suppliers and daily-wage workers, while also pushing up costs for developers who must maintain sites without activity. They said govt’s safety audit is necessary and should continue, but the process should not halt the entire sector when builders are willing to accept accountability through written declarations.The high-level audit team has so far cleared only 10% of the affected projects. In Kolkata, construction has restarted in 32 projects. Sources said the technical committee has cleared around 30 more projects, but these are yet to be ratified by the high-level committee headed by additional chief secretary Rajesh Pandey. With Pandey now appointed DVC chairman & managing director, developers said there is uncertainty over who will head the panel and when pending clearances will be issued.“We have requested the govt to allow construction to resume while the audit of projects continues. Builders can give an undertaking that they have complied with all legal requirements. Even if we get the go-ahead now, it will take around a month to remobilise workers and get the work started. Completion deadlines at all these projects have already been delayed, impacting thousands of home-buyers. If the govt allows work to resume, it will prevent any further delay,” said a functionary of Credai, an umbrella organisation representing all major developers.Developers said remobilisation will not be instant because many labourers have left sites, contractors have shifted equipment and material supply schedules have been disrupted. They said every additional week of suspension pushes delivery timelines further back and increases the risk of disputes with buyers.Credai has already written to state chief secretary seeking a six-month extension of RERA completion deadlines. The association cited supply-chain disruption linked to the war in Iran and local disruptions in Bengal caused by the SIR process followed by elections. Developers said lifting the embargo with undertakings would balance safety oversight with buyer interests and economic activity across the wider construction ecosystem.