Kolkata’s road infrastructure is receiving critical attention this week as civic authorities rushed to utilise a brief dry spell after days of relentless rain. Repair crews from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) were deployed across key stretches from Mominpore to the Police Training School via Alipore. With several arterial roads damaged and cratered from the monsoon onslaught, officials prioritised high-traffic routes in a city grappling with mobility, safety, and commuter frustration. The restoration work reflects the ongoing challenge of building resilient urban transport networks in the face of intensifying climate volatility.
The battered stretches along Judges Court Road, Belvedere Road, Circular Garden Reach Road, and DL Khan Road were among the first to undergo repairs. While the work aimed to quickly restore vehicle movement, it also exposed how vulnerable Kolkata’s core infrastructure remains to seasonal stress. Civic officials confirmed that pothole-filling and crater patching are being undertaken at a rapid pace, and repair progress will accelerate further if the rain holds off. Areas like Gurusaday Road, Brabourne Road, and Gariahat Road are next in line. Many residents reported better traffic flow in early-morning hours, though several neighbourhoods remain cautious. City traffic police, anticipating massive crowd movement during the upcoming Martyrs’ Day rally, have urgently flagged more than 400 repair points across central Kolkata. In a coordinated effort, letters were sent to KMC and PWD, identifying routes like S N Banerjee Road, Amherst Street, CR Avenue, and J L Nehru Road.
The demand for swift response stems from frequent vehicle breakdowns and delays, which have worsened due to road conditions. Flyers and commuters on VIP Road faced significant disruptions midweek as emergency repairs caused overnight traffic snarls stretching up to the Keshtopur flyover and Chinar Park. To minimise daytime inconvenience, roadworks are being scheduled during night blocks between 10 pm and 6 am. Yet, despite the inconvenience, civic and police authorities agree the urgency of the work cannot be overstated. Traffic officers have also asked Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) to assist in repairing Diamond Harbour Road. Heavy-duty transport vehicles, already slowed by poor road conditions, continue to clog major routes. The focus, according to officials, remains on preempting further road degradation and preventing accidents in city hotspots, especially near flyovers and bypass routes prone to structural stress.
Kolkata’s road repair efforts, though reactive, highlight a larger urban planning dilemma: the lack of long-term, climate-resilient infrastructure strategies. Frequent monsoon-related breakdowns underscore the urgent need for preventive maintenance, durable materials, and eco-sensitive urban engineering. As India’s cities prepare for more erratic weather patterns, governments must prioritise infrastructure investment that adapts to future climate realities rather than simply patching past damages. The current momentum in Kolkata is welcome, but lasting solutions will need sustainable foresight and inclusive urban governance.
