Kolkata’s Chingrighata Flyover is being reviewed after three bikers reportedly skidded while negotiating a turn on the recently painted structure, prompting Bengal urban development Minister Agnimitra Paul to announce an inspection of the site and examine whether the new surface created difficulties for road users.
A video purportedly recorded by a car’s dashcam and circulated on social media showed three motorcycles skidding one after another on the flyover. The incident led to questions about whether the fresh coat of paint applied as part of a festive beautification programme had affected vehicle movement or visibility at the turn.
Paul said she and officials from her department would visit the flyover and take stock of the situation. She said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had asked her to examine the facts surrounding the incident. “One bike fell down and hit another bike in front of it. We do not know why it fell. The police and administration have been informed about the matter,” she said.
The minister maintained that the paint being used on roads was anti-skid and said there was no reason for vehicles to fall because of the paint. She nevertheless acknowledged concerns about visibility, saying that she had heard the colours were “dazzling for many people”. If road users were facing difficulties, she said, an alternative arrangement would also be considered.
The Chingrighata Flyover is one of several stretches in the city that were recently painted in multiple colours ahead of Durga Puja. The work formed part of a wider beautification initiative intended to give Kolkata a fresh appearance before the festival. Paul said the road-painting programme had received a positive response from residents.
At a press conference at the state secretariat, Nabanna, Adhikari said he would comment on the reported accident only after receiving and examining the relevant report. When asked whether the painting was responsible for the incident, he questioned whether evidence had been produced to establish that link.
“Do accidents happen because of painting? On how many flyovers have accidents occurred?” Adhikari said. He added that several flyovers had been painted as part of the beautification drive and that he would not make a further comment without complete information about the Chingrighata incident.
The immediate issue for authorities is to determine the cause of the skidding, including whether the painted surface, colour visibility, road geometry or another factor played a role. The minister’s proposed site visit and the report sought by the chief minister are expected to guide any decision on the existing paint treatment or an alternative arrangement.
