Kolkata: Patchwork on pothole-riddled Belgharia Expressway

KOLKATA: The National Highways Authority of India(NHAI) on Monday started patchwork repairs on the 8km stretch of Belgharia Expressway — leading to the airport from Dakshineswar — that has been riddled with craters and has turned into a commuter’s nightmare. In some stretches, the craters have got bigger after the spells of heavy rain and has been in desperate need of repairs for more than a couple of months.
The stretch close to Baranagar Metro station turned into a death trap after rainwater filled the craters, making it difficult for motorists to spot them, leading to accidents. Most potholes there are almost as wide as the road. The situation is similar in parts of Durganar, Mathkal, Prafullanagar Purba Talbagan, Vidyasagar Pally and near Sreenagar.
At Khalasitolla, the potholes on the airport-bound flank are so wide that motorists cannot skirt them and have to drive through. “Over the last fortnight, the condition of the stretch has gone from bad to worse. The potholes have widened into craters, making it almost impossible for drivers and bikers to manoeuvre around them. Several people have been injured in accidents while slow movement of vehicles has led to traffic congestions almost regularly,” said Sambhu Debnath, a local trader.
An IT employee of Salt Lake sector V, Sudipta Mukherjee, who rides a bike to office from his Baranagar home, along the Expressway, said the stretch has turned dangerous. “It is scary driving on this road. The potholes are so big that you have to climb out of them. I have seen two bikers skid and fall in the last one week,” Mukherjee informed.
Sandeep Karra, DCP, traffic department of Barrackpore Commissionerate said they have repeatedly asked concerning authorities to initiate repairs. “Rains have made it worse. We have deployed adequate traffic personnel to tackle the situation during the peak hours. The repair work has already been initiated on the Dakshineswar bound flank and I spoke to the NHAI project director and contractor in this connection. All the craters on the entire stretch would be covered soon,” DCP told TOI.
NHAI engaged contractors to start the repair work on a war footing. “The area where the potholes have come up is low lying and regular movement of heavy vehicles coupled with waterlogging makes temporary repairs difficult to sustain. We are doing some patchwork but a full-fledged repair is possible only after rain recedes,” said a senior official of the National Highway Authority of India.