Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Kolkata Road Repairs Race Against Rain Before Durga Puja
Government agencies are trying to fix Kolkata’s damaged roads before Durga Puja.
They are working quickly because the festival is approaching.
Continuous rain is making the repairs difficult.
New rain can damage work completed the previous night.
Some roads have large potholes filled with water.
Other roads are uneven because of construction work.
Officials say they are still hopeful that many roads will receive temporary repairs before the festival.
Residents and drivers continue to face difficult conditions on several major roads.
Government agencies are repairing Kolkata roads ahead of Durga Puja despite continuous rainfall.
Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said all roads had been assessed and repairs were underway urgently.
Road inspections found water-filled craters on Taratala Road and severe potholes on the EM Bypass.
VIP Road near Chinar Park remains uneven, partly because of Orange Line Metro construction.
Kolkata Police flagged more than 200 roads, while the KMC identified 76 especially poor stretches.
- Who
- West Bengal government agencies, including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority and Public Works Department, are repairing roads under the direction of chief minister Suvendu Adhikari.
- What
- A pre-Durga Puja road-repair drive is facing delays and difficulties because of continuous rain and ongoing construction.
- When
- Repairs are being carried out before Durga Puja, with October 10, Mahalaya, set as the stated deadline.
- Where
- Across Kolkata and elsewhere in the state, including Taratala Road, the EM Bypass and VIP Road near Chinar Park.
- Why
- The roads have deteriorated, with potholes, craters and uneven surfaces, while rain is repeatedly undoing repair work.
Government and repair agencies
Road conditions and operational challenges
Progress before Durga Puja
Government and repair agencies
Suvendu Adhikari said every road had been assessed and that state and national highways were being repaired urgently before the festival.
Road conditions and operational challenges
A drive through Kolkata found that many roads remained in poor condition despite some patchwork repairs.
Effect of rainfall
Government and repair agencies
The KMDA engineer said crews were working through the night and remained hopeful of a temporary facelift before Puja.
Road conditions and operational challenges
The engineer also said rain the following morning was undoing the previous night’s progress.
Completion of identified roads
Government and repair agencies
KMC administrator Smita Pandey said the remaining 45 of the 76 especially poor roads would be repaired before Durga Puja.
Road conditions and operational challenges
The article reported that potholes and damaged stretches were still visible on the EM Bypass, Taratala Road and VIP Road.
- Repair deadline
- October 10, Mahalaya, according to the deadline set by Suvendu Adhikari.
- Roads flagged by police
- More than 200 roads were identified as needing urgent or immediate repairs.
- KMC priority roads
- The KMC identified 76 roads in particularly poor condition.
- KMC repairs reported
- Thirty-one of the 76 roads had been repaired; 45 remained.
- Major damaged location
- Two large, water-filled craters were observed on Taratala Road at Diamond Harbour Road.
- Construction-related disruption
- VIP Road near Chinar Park was uneven amid work on the New Garia-airport Metro corridor.