• Kolkata: Potholes return to haunt Salt Lake residents
    Times of India | 9 October 2022
  • KOLKATA: Potholes have started resurfacing on Salt Lake roads as patchworks carried out by the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) before the pujas are being washed away by frequent showers.

    The bylanes at several blocks across Salt Lake are in a pathetic state and are getting worse by the day. The civic officials plan to start thorough road repair across 41 wards once they start receiving government funds. Stretches of service roads below Metro stations, especially at Central Park, are also in a poor state.

    The stretch at Tank 5 has become a problem area for the civic authorities. "The stretch from Tank 13 to Anindita bus stop is in poor condition. These stretches are prone to accidents and are also inconvenient for elderly people, specially those who walk with support, to move on," said Shankha Shubhro Chaudhuri, a consulting physician and resident of IA Block.

    Several lanes at some of the blocks are yet to get the patchwork done. One such stretch is the AE block Part I and Part II connecting road. "The condition of the road here is a perennial problem. The civic authorities must do something to address the problem," said Soumya Das, a local.

    According to civic authorities, leakage in water pipelines is one of the primary reasons behind frequent breaking down of the bitumen layer. "The patchwork is not lasting long owing to the leakage underground," said a civic official.

    Now with the puja over, the Bidhannagar Welfare Association is planning to meet the BMC mayor to discuss the matter. "The stretch connecting AE block Part I and II is in a pathetic condition and has remained like this for long. Many of the stretches are in a miserable state. We are planning to meet the mayor," said association secretary Sarat Mullick.

    BMC mayor Krishna Chakraborty said intermittent rain had hampered the patchwork drive but it was still on. "It is true that some stretches were in poor condition as road repair work was affected due to rain. The work is now on across the BMC areas," Chakraborty said.

    The civic body got approval of Rs 125 crore for road repairs. "Funds are expected to be released in phases and full-fledged work will start after the funds start to flow," said an official.
  • Link to this news (Times of India)