Kolkata: Some stretches in Salt Lake have been recently repaired under the Amader Para Amader Samadhan (APAS) and Pathashree urban schemes, but residents pointed out that there are several battered roads which are yet to be covered and are fast deteriorating.In the last few months, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been periodically repairing a number of damaged stretches in Salt Lake, especially those inside the blocks, with funds under the APAS scheme.Road repairs have been done in the internal stretches of BE, BF, CF and some other blocks, around Baisakhi and Karunamoyee. The internal lanes of Vidyasagar Niketan in EA Block have also been repaired with APAS funds.However, several stretches inside other blocks are yet to be covered. The condition of these roads are deteriorating and causing inconvenience to motorists.For instance, many parts along a 200m stretch connecting AE Block’s two parts have been in a pitiable condition for a long time. “The stretch has not been thoroughly repaired for at least the last three-four years. The road is becoming almost unmotorable,” said Anirban Mahapatra, a resident.Similarly, the stretch connecting CK CL market to Chawlpatty, which was repaired last year, has again been damaged and is now pitted with large craters. Residents said that loose bitumen aggregate strewn across the damaged spots are causing dust particles to fill the air as vehicles move along the road.“The stretch from CK market to Chawlpatty got damaged within two months of repair. It is causing severe dust pollution and citizens are reduced to living in a dust bowl,” said Dipankar Mukherjee, a resident of CL block.Residents said the situation is similar in many places. “The perilous condition of roads in several parts of the township has been causing dust pollution and is affecting residents,” said Santa Chatterjee from DL block.Following Bidhannagar MLA and minister Sujit Bose’s letter to minister Firhad Hakim, urging for repair of several battered stretches in Salt Lake, the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) estimated about Rs 6.7 crore and floated tenders just two days before the election model code of conduct came into effect on March 15. The tenders listed all the roads mentioned by Bose for repairs, including the battered stretches in AE Block.Repair and maintenance of roads across Salt Lake has been a major concern. It was after a long delay that BMC authorities launched a road repair drive across Salt Lake in March last year, with around Rs 25 crore funds that were sanctioned by the state govt. Several roads were repaired, but not all the battered stretches, including those inside the blocks, could not be properly covered.
