Crumbling roads across key city and suburban stretches during the monsoon have prompted strong judicial intervention, with the high court directing the state to complete urgent repairs within two weeks. Highlighting the risks to commuters and patients alike, the bench warned of suo motu action if road conditions remain unchanged. The court’s rebuke follows growing public frustration as pothole-ridden roads compromise mobility, safety, and essential services in one of India’s most densely populated cities.
The rainy season has once again laid bare Kolkata’s fragile urban infrastructure. The roads between Taratala and Joka, Taratala and Batanagar, and Bally’s Sapuipara have deteriorated significantly under the strain of heavy rain and prolonged civic neglect. These key arterial roads, critical to daily commutes and emergency response, have become hazardous terrain, riddled with deep potholes, waterlogging, and broken asphalt. Judicial authorities noted that some stretches are now so dangerous that ambulances struggle to pass, raising urgent concerns around equitable access to healthcare and mobility. In response, the court mandated that the government submit proof of repairs within 14 days, failing which it would initiate independent legal action. This marks a rare but pointed intervention reflecting rising institutional impatience with civic inaction.
Kolkata’s infrastructure woes are not isolated but part of a wider urban struggle to adapt to climate-induced weather extremes. Torrential rain has turned city roads into deathtraps, while planned repairs lag behind due to fragmented urban governance and resource misallocation. Despite crores spent annually on road maintenance, basic transport infrastructure appears to collapse with every monsoon, exposing long-standing inefficiencies. Urban experts argue that temporary fixes only worsen the situation by masking systemic flaws rather than resolving them. Without a resilient, well-drained, and sustainable road network, the city risks further isolation of its vulnerable residents and increasing public health risks.
Efforts to patch the damage are underway, with municipal teams spotted working on major stretches like Diamond Harbour Road, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, and AJC Bose Road. However, the pace of repair appears inconsistent, with some roads showing signs of quick fixes rather than lasting improvements. Potholes refilled with substandard material tend to resurface after the next spell of rain, often creating even greater hazards. Residents and transport unions alike continue to raise alarm, demanding quality over speed, transparency in roadworks, and accountability in urban spending. The intersection at Behala Chowrasta, once heavily damaged, was recently repaired, yet doubts linger over the durability of such interventions.
The court’s observations have stirred renewed hope among citizens for long-term change. In a city aiming to be both smart and sustainable, infrastructure resilience cannot remain an afterthought. What is needed is a holistic and climate-aware approach to road design, maintenance, and funding, one that prioritises the lived experience of everyday users over bureaucratic checkboxes. As Kolkata gears up for more rain and heavier monsoons in the years ahead, sustainable infrastructure investment remains the clearest path to a safer, more equitable urban future.
