KMC to complete repair work of damaged roads before Puja

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will complete road repair work on war footing to ensure a hassle-free experience for the Puja revellers in the city.

The road on EM Bypass, which has been damaged due to work for the Garia-Dum Dum Metro project, will also be repaired by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) before Durga Puja.

Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL), which has been executing work for the Metro project, had allegedly dodged responsibility in repairing the road, claimed Mayor Firhad Hakim, who is also the Urban Development minister.

Some of the thoroughfares in the city have been badly damaged and potholes and craters have developed, putting the lives of pedestrians and vehicle drivers at great peril.

"We will soon take up repair work at some of the major roads in the city, where the top layer of the road has been damaged. We want to complete the work before the Puja this year. We will use cold mix for the repair work since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked us to refrain from using mastic," Hakim told reporters on the sidelines of the monthly meeting of KMC.

He said that instructions have been given out to put up the name of the contractor carrying out the repair work on a signboard at the working site.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed KMC to carry out road repair in the city regardless of which road it is and whether it falls under the KMC's jurisdiction. KMC should repair the roads and then settle the payment from the concerned agencies responsible for the maintenance of those roads.

The decision was taken after it was observed that some agencies were indulging in blame game when it came to repair work.

"E M Bypass, Taratala Road, Park Circus connector etc. are some of the roads needing repairs," an official in KMC's Road department said.