Civic body starts emergency repairs on Bypass stretch after 72-hr commute pain
Times of India | 12 July 2025
Kolkata: The Kolkata Police's SOS to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) after a 72-hour severe commuter ordeal at Chingrighata crossing and near Captain Bheri on EM Bypass was finally heard on Friday, with the civic body completing necessary repairs by Friday night. "Commuters experienced an easier commute on Friday evening compared to the rest of the week," claimed a Kolkata traffic cop around 7 pm on Friday.
Friday morning, however, did not begin on the right note for commuters, as the traffic pressure on AJC Bose Road flyover and Maa slowed down the Metropolitan stretch. "While the KMC began the repair work on Thursday evening, some work was pending. At one point, cops had to resort to taking off most PTS-bound vehicles at seven-point crossing at Park Circus to ease movement on Maa and the Bypass. The breakdown of vehicles and some scheduled programmes on DL Khan Road added to our issues," explained an officer.
As repair work progressed, despite the intermittent rain that halted work, the traffic tail at Chingrighata reduced. "After several days, Friday evening saw the traffic tail on the south-bound (towards Science City) flank end at Building More instead of Kadapara or beyond," explained a Beliaghata Traffic Guard officer.
Lalbazar said they will soon hand over the entire list of road stretches that require repairs in the city. "SOS is likely to be sounded for Mominpore crossing and Sealdah flyover, too," said an officer at Lalbazar. This list will precede the pre-Durga Puja stock-taking exercise of damaged roads," said an officer.
Commuters agreed that on Friday, traffic was smoother than that of the past three days. Several of them had vented their anger on the Facebook page of Kolkata Traffic Police regarding the traffic mess since Wednesday. On Friday, commuters said though movement was faster, further coordination was required to discharge a larger volume of vehicles from Sector V to EM Bypass. "Entered Sector V at 7 pm, and it's now 7.24 pm — finally at Nalban Food Park. Still waiting for the grand finale at Chingrighata crossing. Start giving some priority to thousands commuting from Sector V, New Town, and Rajarhat," wrote Chetan Juneja on Facebook.
Between Tuesday and Thursday, the worst hit was the traffic coming from Sector V and moving towards Metropolitan. The police said that even the traffic tail on the main EM Bypass reached Salt Lake stadium gate, though the movement was not completely stalled. The traffic tail in Salt Lake crossed Lohapool.