The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has set October 5 as its new deadline to repair damaged roads across the city and has launched helplines for residents to report potholes and other civic problems. The announcement follows repeated rain that damaged or washed away repairs on several stretches, including parts of EM Bypass.
Municipal commissioner Smita Pandey announced the revised target at a news conference on Thursday after inspecting EM Bypass. She said the civic body had earlier aimed to complete the repairs by September 30, but rain had affected the repaired sections. “In several stretches, the repaired spots have worn off following the rain. We have now set a target to complete the repairs by October 5,” Pandey said.
The deadline comes five days before the October 10 target set by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari. A section of road engineers cited in the report, however, said the October 5 schedule could be difficult to meet. They said bituminous hot-mix repairs would require a sustained dry spell to hold properly. A senior official described completing the work by October 5 as “slightly ambitious”.
The KMC has divided the city into five zones, each under the supervision of a senior officer. Executive engineers have been directed to inspect damaged stretches and upload reports. The civic body has also deployed 13 pothole-repair vehicles to address smaller potholes. According to Pandey, road repairs are being carried out at night when there is no rain.
The roads department has identified seven roads and stretches for urgent work: EM Bypass, Alipore Road, Burdwan Road, Gurusaday Road, Circular Garden Reach Road, Diamond Harbour Road and Central Avenue. These routes include important city corridors used by private vehicles, buses and other road users, making the condition and durability of repairs directly relevant to daily movement.
Residents can report damaged roads and other civic-service problems, including drinking-water complaints, through the KMC’s integrated control room. The listed control-room numbers are 033-2286 1212, 1313 and 1414. The toll-free number is 1800 3453375. The KMC call centre can be reached at 2226-9909, while complaints can also be sent through WhatsApp at 8335999111.
Pandey said officials handling public grievances would sit together to address complaints. The announcement comes ahead of the festive season, when road conditions and traffic movement are expected to receive increased public attention. Urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul had inspected roads in south Kolkata earlier this week, visiting areas including Golpark, Southern Avenue, Charu Market and Tollygunge.
During that inspection, Paul said repaired stretches should last for five years and added that public money could not be wasted. The KMC’s next stated milestone is the completion of repairs by October 5, subject to weather conditions and the progress reported by the five municipal zones.
