Kolkata Faces Extended Road Repair Delays Amid Bitumen Supply Crisis
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has been forced to suspend all road repair activities across the city, leaving numerous neighborhood roads in a dug-up and deteriorating state for over a week. This disruption stems from the closure of the civic body's hot-mix plants, which have ceased operations due to a critical shortage of bitumen, the essential binding material used in asphalt production.
Official Acknowledgment and Procurement Efforts
According to a senior official from the KMC roads department, a formal requisition for bitumen procurement has been submitted to the state urban development and municipal affairs department for approval. The official admitted that the situation is particularly dire in areas like New Alipore, where the condition of Bankim Mukherjee Road is described as "pathetic" and urgently requires intervention. However, efforts are underway to initiate repairs on stretches of this vital road starting next week, pending the resumption of hot-mix plant operations.
Impact on Key Roads and Resident Complaints
Several prominent roads across Kolkata remain affected, including:
- Bankim Mukherjee Road in New Alipore
- Prince Gholam Mohammed Road near Deshapriya Park
- NSC Bose Road in Tollygunge
- DH Road and sections of EM Bypass
Residents, such as Amitava Sen from New Alipore, have voiced frustration over the KMC's inaction. Sen reported that the poor road conditions have led to regular traffic snarls and even freak accidents in recent weeks, exacerbating daily inconveniences.
Underlying Causes and Broader Implications
A KMC water supply department official revealed that many roads in south Kolkata and adjacent lanes were excavated months ago for water pipe laying projects. While some areas have been restored, others await repair as the roads department's bitumen stocks have depleted. The shortage is not isolated to New Alipore; the KMC is also struggling to address repair needs in Behala and Tollygunge due to the lack of bitumen supply.
Annual Bitumen Requirements and Current Status
The civic body typically requires approximately 12,000 tonnes of bitumen annually to maintain and repair Kolkata's road network. With plants idle and stores empty, officials hope to restore supply by next week to restart the road-repair drive, but delays are expected to persist until then, impacting commuters and residents citywide.
