KMC Road Repairs: With monsoon rains causing widespread road damage and halting hot-mix operations, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has turned to an unconventional yet practical solution: repairing potholes with waste materials such as broken paver blocks and construction debris. This measure, adopted as an interim response, aims to reduce traffic disruptions across key stretches of the city until conventional methods can resume.
The urgency stems from heavy rainfall that battered road surfaces and made it impossible to operate bitumen-based hot-mix plants. KMC officials confirmed that repair work has already started in central and southern Kolkata, with further action to follow as dry spells appear in the forecast.
Interim Measures with Long-Term Impact
KMC engineers and road maintenance teams are using rubble and discarded paver blocks to patch roads, especially in areas of high vehicular movement. While not a permanent solution, the measure is designed to:
- Prevent accidents caused by deep potholes
- Restore traffic flow during the peak monsoon period
- Prepare priority stretches for final repairs once weather conditions permit
The debris being used is largely sourced from civic maintenance stockpiles, traffic police inputs, and leftover material from ongoing municipal works. KMC’s solid waste and roads departments are working jointly to deploy this material at over a dozen locations daily.
Roads Under Immediate Repair
Key locations where repairs are already underway or scheduled include:
- NS Road and Hemanta Basu Sarani (central business district)
- MG Road, Chittaranjan Avenue, and Amherst Street (north-central stretches)
- EM Bypass and Park Circus (eastern arterial zones)
- Biren Roy Road (West), Tollygunge Circular Road, Alipore Road (southern sectors)
Many of these areas serve as commercial connectors or vital traffic corridors. Due to high vehicle density and bus routes, even minor damage leads to traffic snarls and pedestrian hazards.
Waiting for the Right Weather
The KMC’s hot-mix plants at Palmer Bazar and Goragacha remain on standby, with operations set to resume after a minimum seven-day dry spell, which is necessary for laying bitumen-based mixes effectively.
Once consistent dry weather is reported, these plants will begin large-scale production to conduct lasting asphalt repairs across the city. According to KMC officials, road restoration will accelerate immediately afterward, especially ahead of the festive season when roads are under additional stress from increased footfall and vehicle movement.
Citizen Frustration and Temporary Hazards
The poor condition of roads during the monsoon has triggered backlash from residents. At one location—Biren Roy Road (West)—a group of high school students recently blocked the road to protest a large, waterlogged crater that had become a hazard for both pedestrians and vehicles.
In response, KMC officials promised that the spot would be stabilized using debris and leveled until hot-mix patching becomes feasible.
Motorists have also raised concerns about poor road lighting and visibility, especially where potholes appear near traffic signals, crossings, or busy intersections. KMC’s electrical and lighting departments have been asked to coordinate with road engineers to ensure that areas under repair are well-lit and marked.
KMC Road Repairs: Traffic Police Involvement
The Kolkata Traffic Police have flagged at least seven major stretches where road conditions pose a serious threat to commuter safety. Among them:
- Sections under Taratala Flyover, Sealdah Flyover, and Ultadanga crossing
- Portions of DH Road and APC Road, where truck and heavy vehicle movement is constant
In some areas, temporary barricades and traffic diversions have been introduced. The police have also shared reports with KMC detailing locations where potholes need urgent stabilization using the current stopgap methods.
Planning for the Future
Beyond the monsoon season, KMC plans to undertake more robust road improvement projects, including:
- Bituminous repaving across high-stress routes
- Use of recycled plastic and construction waste to reinforce road material, based on previous trials in Salt Lake and EM Bypass
- Expansion of the city’s Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste Processing Plant, located near New Town, to produce standardized blocks and aggregate for sustainable roadwork
There is also a long-term push to improve road drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas prone to waterlogging, which accelerates road surface degradation.
Administrative Assurances
KMC officials have reassured citizens that these interim repairs are fully safe and supervised by civil engineers. While not as durable as hot-mix work, the use of paver blocks and compacted rubble offers sufficient stability during periods of heavy rainfall and high traffic.
Mayor Firhad Hakim stated that once conditions improve, all major and minor roads affected during the monsoon will undergo immediate resurfacing and quality checks. Additional instructions have been issued to speed up the tender process for materials and increase night shifts where lighting and safety allow.
Official External Links
For more updates and resources related to this initiative, refer to the following official portals:
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)
- Kolkata Traffic Police
- West Bengal Public Works Department (PWD)
- Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Department, West Bengal
-
Construction & Demolition Waste Management Guidelines – CPCB
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