Driving Ma Durga a tough ask this year, thanks to cratered roads
Times of India | 28 September 2024
Kolkata: With just four days till Mahalaya, when the maximum number of idols get delivered from Kumartuli to the pandals, the battered condition of several roads has left civic bodies, drivers and puja organisers in a spot. Rain over the past few days has left several roads in Kolkata and Salt Lake in a shambles. Though the civic bodies had set a Mahalaya deadline to carry out repairs, the situation appears challenging with more rain forecast in the days ahead.
Truck drivers are particularly wary of Rabindra Sarani that leads to Kumartuli as multiple stretches on the road have potholes. The drivers also have their hearts in their mouth while traversing MG Road and Central Avenue. Similarly, different sections of the Sealdah flyover have potholes though one section has been repaired. Those transporting idols from Kalighat Patuapara to different localities in south Kolkata have to deal with undulations on SP Mukherjee Road. Puja organisers in Behala and Haridevpur are spending sleepless nights, worried about how to transport the idols without damage as they get jolted when the trucks hit craters.
In Salt Lake, several stretches on the first, second and third avenue roads and cross roads, along with the roads inside the blocks, require urgent repairs. Stone chips line the road stretches in many places, making it dangerous for bikers. BMC officials said patch work will be conducted on the most damaged stretches before puja. In New Town, NKDA also plans to take up patch work of damaged stretches.
Many puja organisers are urging artisans from Kumartuli to accompany the idols to pandals so that, if needed, repairs can be done on arrival.
“The condition of many roads is terrible. We have to take extra care to ensure there is no damage to the idols,” said Sanjoy Ghosh, a truck driver who has been ferrying idols to pandals since 1987.
“The drivers have to be careful while transporting idols. Some idols have started to move out but most will start to shift out from Mahalaya,” said artist Pashupati Rudra Paul.
“Many stretches are in very bad shape. We often drive in first or second gear to ensure the idols don’t get damaged due to jerking,” said Kishan Yadav, a truck driver who was taking a Durga idol from Kumartuli to a pandal at Kidderpore on Friday.