Major revamp for Kolkata airport road before monsoon to prevent waterlogging
Times of India | 20 November 2024
123 Kolkata: A slew of measures will be undertaken before the next monsoon for a permanent solution to prevent waterlogging along the road to the airport. Stakeholders attending a meeting at Kolkata airport decided on Tuesday that the measures will include installation of drainage water pumps, cleaning and construction of new drains, raising of road surface levels and the removal of encroachments.
TOI reported on multiple occasions this year how fliers and motorists waded and drove through waterlogged stretches of VIP Road, Jessore Road, and the entrance to the airport terminal on multiple days of the monsoon. The repeated hazards angered flyers and left airport authorities worried, who approached the state govt for a permanent solution.
"Under the direction of the state home decretary, the meeting was chaired by the district magistrate of North 24 Parganas, focusing on ways to address the persistent waterlogging issues around NSCBI Airport. The meeting aimed to identify the root causes, explore drainage solutions, and emphasise the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent disruptions, particularly during the monsoon season," said airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria.
The meeting was attended by multiple officials of all key stakeholders, including Bidhannagar Police, public health engineering, public works department, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, and North Dum Dum Municipality.
"The low invert level at the outlet near Mondal Ganthi in the cantonment canal was observed to cause waterlogging issues in the vicinity of the airport area. Installation of a high-capacity water pumping station and desilting operations are planned at the Mondal Ganthi canal near Tata gate to address the problem," an airport official said.
Among other immediate steps, two hume pipes of 1800 mm diameter near Haldirams crossing will be cleaned by PHE and HIDCO, and a pump house at City Centre 2 will also be augmented.
It was also observed that water discharge from outlet number 2 of Donnagar canal towards Naoikhaal was at a reduced flow rate. To address the issue, BMC officials said they are installing a pump house facility at the outlet to reduce the runoff discharge time, particularly during high tide conditions.
At the meeting, Bidhannagar Police also highlighted the issue of regular flooding of service roads in front of residential complexes on both sides of VIP Road between Chinar Park and VIP Road during the monsoon, where water refused to recede several days after a shower. HIDCO and PWD authorities said they would raise the road level of service roads to address the issue.
It was also noted that debris and dismantled material from Metro work, plus encroachment at different levels, were also contributing to the waterlogging. "RVNL has been asked to complete the pending 35m D-wall and clear the debris and dismantled materials at the earliest, and cops have been asked to clear the encroachment," said the official.
Metro Railway authorities were also asked not to connect any rain parallel to Jessore Road near Bankra culvert and make separate arrangements for their drainage discharge directly to Naoikhaal, as the canal lacks the capacity to take in any more water. Metro authorities were also asked to construct a new drain at the earliest to prevent the accumulation of water in front of the old terminal building.
Decisions were also made regarding desilting and dredging of existing canals and drains for smoother water flow. The stakeholders will meet again on Dec 15 to discuss the progress of the work, officials said.