Reaching airport still a pain as VIP Rd repairs stop midway
Times of India | 20 August 2025
Kolkata: Even as road repairs across the city has gathered momentum during the current dry spell, the VIP Road stretch continues to be in a poor shape, leading to snarls and safety risks for motorists.
Bidhannagar Police, in charge of traffic management on the corridor, said the Ultadanga-bound flank between Kolkata airport and Haldiram crossing is the worst affected. The damaged road surface slows down traffic considerably, creating heavy congestion, particularly during peak hours. Officers added that the uneven and broken stretch has also made commute difficult for two-wheeler riders.
"We wrote to PWD on several occasions requesting urgent intervention, but the situation has not improved," a senior traffic officer said.
Public Works Department officials admitted the delay. A senior official said that repairs resumed last week but had to be stopped after a brief spell of rain. "Since then, the manpower deployed there was diverted elsewhere. We are waiting for a longer dry spell to take a full traffic block and carry out proper resurfacing," he told TOI.
On the airport-bound flank between Haldiram and airport, some patchwork was done. This followed TOI's report on Aug 1 that highlighted how hurried repairs before the President's visit were washed away by rain, leaving the road cratered and waterlogged for the convoy.
The opposite flank, however, continues to be a major problem. Nearly 180 metres between AAI Gate and Kaikhali Haj House has been lying in a poor condition since mid-monsoon. PWD managed to cover about 60 metres with paver blocks during a three-day traffic block in July. More than a month later, the remaining section is yet to be repaired.
Large craters have been filled with bricks, gravel, and paver blocks. In some places, bitumen was used but the ride remains uneven. Commuters said loose gravel and stone chips made the area dusty and slippery, creating additional hazards for bikers. Gaps also developed between the paver blocks and the original road surface.
"The road is extremely risky and congestion-prone. Covering less than a kilometre from airport crossing to Keshtopur flyover takes almost 25 minutes during rush hour," said Deepankar Chakraborty, a motorist. Another commuter, Sumanta Rai, who was travelling from Bhowanipore to airport, said the makeshift repairs have slowed down traffic.