The presidential ordinance in 1970 gave birth to the much needed Kolkata metropolitan development authority for the city of Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta). Its main objectives are to plan and promote the development modules in metropolitan area of Kolkata. It allots new land sites for new ventures and takes care of the already existing structures in the city. Apart from these services, Kolkata metropolitan development authority provides and manages basic amenities like water, waste management and drainage dispatch. Kolkata metropolitan development authority is termed as Technical Secretariat to KMPC (Kolkata Metropolitan Planning Committee).

For Kolkata metropolitan development authority the biggest challenge faced is the population of the city. As a reason it development authority is constantly keeping track of this account and drafting layout plans for numerous housing schemes. The housing scheme possesses a separate plan for every class of the society which are generally based on need and budget of that particular class of people. In the past five years, as many as ten housing projects were developed by the development authority which was budgeted to whooping Rs 140.61 crore. Presently another eight projects are on its way of progress which promises Kolkata with more supply so as to meet the demand mounting every year. Out of these if we name some projects the list would be like this: Barrack pore Housing (Phase-II), Purba Housing, GL Block Housing Complex, VAMBAY (Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana) and Baishnabghata-Patuli Township Area.

Kolkata metropolitan development authority is known for the development of specialised projects like: India Population Project, Ganga Action Plan, Refugee Colony Development, Kolkata Slum Improvement Programme and Bustee Improvement Programme. These projects are not only benefiting the city of Kolkata but also solving many problems faced by the central government of India. Apart from these services, the development authority takes care of basic needs of people like water supply, sanitation, transportation, sewerage, traffic etc. For more than thirty years now this metropolitan development authority has been providing transparent services to its citizens and built a sense of pride and integrity in minds of its residents.