Kolkata: Waterlogging woes returned to haunt residents of complexes near Haldiram off VIP Road on Friday as the service lanes on both flanks were inundated following intermittent spells of heavy rain. Those living on the stretch had endured a difficult monsoon, during which the area was waterlogged several times after only a brief respite last year when a new drainage pumping station and dredging of the Bagjola canal had spared them the perennial problem.
Though the waterlogging on VIP Road was not severe, people found it challenging to negotiate the service lane to reach VIP Road. Those travelling to the airport had to cross two waterlogged zones. While the VIP Road stretch near Haldiram was less problematic, that between the right turn flyover leading to the airport and the ramp for departing flights was more severe and led to a bottleneck. “This is nothing new. It always gets waterlogged like this when its rains,” said a taxi driver.
PWD used pumps to flush out excess storm water but to not much avail, given the incessant showers. The department plans four new drainage pumping stations off VIP Road to flush out excess water into Bagjola Canal at Kestopur.
Airport officials cited metro work as the reason behind clogged drainage system. For the flooding at Haldiram, civic officials said the drainage pumping station that was set up near City Centre II two years ago was not enough and another facility was required. Also, lack of dredging of the Bagjola canal meant its capacity has dwindled. “Bagjola and the other link canals are full. Coupled with high tide, it’s difficult to flush out excess storm water. The water could recede once the canal’s water-retention capacity increases, which can happen only with dredging,” an official said.
Many who use the Haldiram and Kaikhali stretch avoided it on Friday. Pinaki Mazumdar, a businessman from Bally who commutes to Salt Lake for work, stayed back. “I usually avoid going to that side amid rain as it gets flooded,” he said. Even those delivering essentials and vendors found it difficult to cater to the residents of the complexes there. “Moderate rain floods this stretch as well as our housing complex. We have to take rickshaws or totos inside our complex to reach the gates,” said a resident of Anupama housing complex.