Kolkata: Heavy seasonal rain has left major roads across Kolkata riddled with potholes, cracked asphalt and hazardous craters, sparking widespread outrage among commuters who face severe traffic snarls and risks of accidents.
Key arterial roads including E M Bypass, Park Circus connector, CGR Road, Diamond Harbour Road, Chittaranjan Avenue, APC Roy Road, AJC Bose Road (near Rabindra Sadan), Gariahat Road and NSC Bose Road (Tollygunge) are among some of the worst-affected roads in the city. Commuters travelling along the vital stretch between Kasba and Science City also report excruciating delays during peak hours as vehicles struggle to navigate uneven surfaces with the service road near PC Gardens now being avoided by two-wheelers.
Even as Lalbazar has compiled a list of roads that need repairs and sent it to KMC, sources said an SOS has been sent for stretches like DH Road (between Pathakpara and Ekbalpore), Bardhaman Road (Alipore), Strand Road (near Howrah Bridge) and the Panchannagram stretch of EM Bypass.
“Every morning, commute has turned into an ordeal,” said Subhashish Roy, a motorist who travels along EM Bypass. “The potholes between Panchannagram and Science City are so deep that traffic slows down to a single lane. Two-wheeler riders are constantly at risk of skidding, especially when rain fills these craters.”
“Each day, the traffic jam begins from Majerhat Bridge approach near Taratala Mint and continues till Mominpore. While returning back in the evening, this slow movement starts from Ekbalpore with the local guard failing to find any alternative solution,” said Pratip Talukdar, a Behala resident.
The surface of the bridges and flyover roads has also developed potholes. “From RG Kar bridge to Sealdah flyover extending up to Gariahat flyover, the roads are not in proper shape,” conceded a KMC official.
Conditions are equally dire in southern and western Kolkata. Severe deterioration has been reported along Biren Roy Road (West), Motilal Gupta Road, Kastodanga Road and MG Road (South) in the Behala region. Residents and daily commuters note that these stretches not only prolong travel times but also cause significant damage to vehicles.
In the port area, heavy freight traffic combined with waterlogging has battered Transport Depot Road and Taratala Road, along with the stretch between Khidderpore Crossing and Remount Road.
According to a KMC roads department official, the civic body has already taken up a road-repair drive but conceded that it got halted due to incessant rain. “We have started a road-repair drive but we couldn’t continue due to the downpour,” said the civic official.