Kolkata: Instead of patchworks, the KMC roads department has taken up a thorough repair of a major stretch of DH Road (from Majerhat Bridge to Kidderpore) with plastic hot mix. Apart from DH Road, the civic body will repair some roads in Alipore.
Sources in the KMC roads department said the civic bosses decided to repair and relay stretches of DH Road with recycled plastic after successful experimentation in several parts of Behala. "We tested the efficacy of recycled plastic after a stretch of Bakshibagan Road in Behala was re-laid with plastic hot mix. Our primary concern is stopping water seepage. Since plastic is water-resistant, we expect better results," said a KMC roads department official.
According to a department senior official, the condition of some stretches of Alipore Road, Judges Court Road and Bardhaman Road has necessitated a thorough repair at the earliest. "While Alipore Road has developed potholes in stretches, motorists on Bardhaman Road are forced to negotiate a jarring ride. Besides fixing the potholes on Alipore Road, we will smoothen the road surface for Bardhaman Road. The exercise will offer the motorists a better riding experience," said the civic official.
The KMC roads department conceived the road smoothening work in 2022 following CM Mamata Banerjee's instructions, asking Mayor Firhad Hakim to iron out the undulations. "Motorists and bikers often complain to us about the uneven roads. We admit that in several stretches, frequent digging followed by hurried repairs leads to undulations. It often leads to accidents, especially at night," said the civic official.
According to a KMC official, the civic body took up temporary patchwork of several stretches of DH Road before pujas. But now the civic body will concentrate on giving a permanent solution to pothole perils. "We will take up restoration of several worst stretches of DH Road. Though it may take some time as the work will be done in phases on the busy thoroughfare, we are trying to find a lasting solution this time," said a KMC roads department senior official.