Kolkata: Mayor Firhad Hakim ordered the repair of pavements in north Kolkata, especially in Bagbazar, Shyambazar, Hatibagan, and Sovabazar, where thousands of people come for pandal-hopping during Durga Puja.
In the KMC House meeting on Wednesday, Trinamool councillor Meenakshi Gangopadhyay flagged the issue of broken and uneven pavements.
Gangopadhyay said, "The pavements of Aurobindo Setu, the bridge adjacent to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and Tala Bridge are in a shambles with slabs crying for urgent repairs. Areas like Sovabazar, Bagbazar, Shyambazar, and Hatibagan are epicentres of pandal-hoppers during puja, and many people from different parts of the city and suburbs visit these places."
In reply to the councillor's request, Hakim said, "All the broken pavements in the pandal hopping zones of north Kolkata will be repaired before Durga Puja."
Partha Roy, general secretary of Baghbazar Sarbojonin Durga Puja Committee, told TOI: "The pavements need to be repaired, otherwise, pandal hoppers might get injured. I request the civic body to repair the pavements before the puja rush begins."
"Repairing footpaths before Durga Puja is necessary for public safety. Senior citizens, children, and differently-abled people who visit pandals may fall and get hurt due to the broken pavements," said Samik Kumar Saha, chief controller of Ahiritola Sarbojonin Durgotsav Committee.
The councillor requested the removal of junk iron posts and poles lying in the dividers of APC Road and RG Kar Road for a long time.