Kolkata: Several roads off EM Bypass are in a deplorable condition, with potholes and craters that urgently require the attention of the civic body. While a repair drive by Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s roads department is underway on Bypass, locals have demanded a similar initiative for its tertiary roads, which are lined with residential buildings on both sides.The residential areas off Bypass include Anandapur, Bhagabanpur, parts of Mukundapur, Ajoy Nagar, Purbalok, Netai Nagar, Kalikapur, and Madurdaha, among others. Although some of the roads have already had patchwork recently, the rain has created fresh potholes in several spots, locals said.Mukundapur resident Sourav Das said, “About two-three months ago, the roads at Purbalok and Netai Nagar were repaired. Now, with the rain, potholes have started popping up on the repaired stretches. Riding a bike has become risky on these roads.”“My father needs frequent hospitalisation. Every time we take him to the hospital, he has to endure a painstaking ride in the ambulance because of the pothole-ridden road,” said Kalikapur resident Koushik Sen.KMC officials said they have received complaints from locals about the affected tertiary roads off Bypass, and cited the lack of a dry spell to take up road repairs. An official said, “At present, repairs are being carried out on the affected stretches of Bypass. We have decided that once this work is done, we will start repairing the tertiary roads.”Auto drivers, citing bad roads, have also been short-terminating trips, adding to commuters’ woes. “It has become a challenge to find an auto, especially in the evening. The auto drivers mostly operate on truncated routes, avoiding the battered stretches. Even totos refuse to ply on the stretches. We request the civic body to undertake a repair drive urgently,” said Anandapur resident Subrata Bandyopadhyay.An auto operator at Anandapur complained that battered roads are taking a toll on vehicles. “The road at Bhagabanpur is riddled with craters and not in a motorable condition. So, most of us are plying on truncated routes. Services are fewer due to bad roads.”
