VIP Road Repairs Spark Traffic Chaos— Ongoing repair works on Kolkata’s crucial VIP Road have led to major traffic snarls, extended travel times, and mounting frustration among commuters heading to and from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. What was once a smooth arterial route has now become a bottleneck, with traffic congestion peaking during rush hours and flight schedules at risk.
Despite official advisories and alternative route suggestions by traffic authorities, the road woes are far from over.
The Crux of the Repairs
The VIP Road, formally known as Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, is a lifeline that connects Ultadanga, Lake Town, Baguihati, Teghoria, and the airport. The stretch undergoing maintenance is between Haldiram crossing and Kaikhali, a high-traffic corridor that witnesses thousands of private cars, airport-bound taxis, commercial trucks, and buses every day.
The Public Works Department (PWD) began repair and resurfacing work on a 2.5-kilometer stretch as part of a monsoon-preparedness and road upgrade initiative. The work includes:
- Pothole filling and resurfacing with bitumen concrete
- Stormwater drainage repair
- Structural reinforcement of certain flyover segments
- Median and lane divider reinstallation
VIP Road Repairs Spark Traffic Chaos: Timeline and Phases
Authorities claim the entire project will be completed in three weeks, weather permitting. The work has been divided into phases:
| Phase | Location | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Haldiram to Baguihati | July 6 – July 12 | 80% complete |
| Phase 2 | Baguihati to Teghoria | July 13 – July 18 | Pending |
| Phase 3 | Teghoria to Kaikhali | July 19 – July 25 | Pending |
Chaos on the Ground
Despite night shifts and partial lane closures, the impact on commuters has been severe:
- Flight passengers missed check-in windows due to delays of 30 to 90 minutes.
- Emergency vehicles were diverted via VIP Bypass and Rajarhat Main Road, causing confusion.
- Local autos, app cabs, and public buses had to cut detours via narrow internal lanes, leading to bottlenecks at Kestopur, Laketown, and Dum Dum Park.
One commuter, Nikita Bose, traveling to Delhi for a conference, shared:
“I left New Town 2.5 hours early, but I reached the airport just 20 minutes before boarding. This is too risky.”
Traffic Police Intervention
Kolkata Traffic Police has deployed additional personnel and smart signal override controls along key intersections including:
- VIP Crossing (Ultadanga)
- Kestopur Canal Bridge
- Haldiram junction
- Airport Entry Road
They’ve also released a traffic advisory, recommending the following alternative routes:
- From Salt Lake: Use Canal East Road and connect via Rajarhat Main Road
- From Dunlop or BT Road: Use Belgharia Expressway
- Airport-bound: Exit via Rajarhat Expressway if coming from New Town Sector V
Despite these steps, real-time congestion updates are lacking due to poor signal reception in some areas.
What Do the Authorities Say?
PWD officials maintain the road repairs were overdue and essential:
“There’s no ideal time for this kind of work. We’re doing our best to finish before Durga Puja traffic increases,” said Chief Engineer Arijit Basu.
Airport officials, however, have requested better coordination:
“We’ve asked police and PWD to consider passenger needs and inform airlines in advance to minimize check-in issues,” said an AAI representative.
Economic and Civic Fallout
The ripple effect is being felt beyond just traffic:
- Ride-hailing fares on Uber and Ola have surged by 30–50% due to wait time and congestion.
- Local shopkeepers along VIP Road have seen a dip in foot traffic and delivery services.
- Small school vans and pool car operators report delays in picking up students.
Public Reaction and Frustration
On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, hashtags such as #VIPRoadHell, #AirportTrafficJam, and #FixKolkataRoads have trended regionally.
Residents are demanding:
- Pre-repair public notifications
- Night-only repair shifts
- Coordination with flight schedules and medical emergency routes
Expert Views
Prof. Ashok Mitra, Urban Mobility Planner, Jadavpur University:
“What Kolkata lacks is a coordinated, real-time infrastructure dashboard. Repair, drainage, and traffic all work in silos. That’s inefficient.”
Dr. Malini Sen, Environmental Engineer:
“Such resurfacing should have been done during summer recess or in staggered micro-patch phases.”
Policy Changes Ahead?
The state’s Urban Development Department is considering a pilot rollout of “Integrated Urban Mobility Protocols (IUMP)” which would mandate:
- Inter-agency coordination during repair work
- Advance passenger advisory systems for key roads
- Use of AI-based traffic diversion tools
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has also floated tenders for AI-driven pothole detection drones that may reduce future delays.
Related Photos You Can Use (Suggestions):
- Image of long queues of cars and buses on VIP Road
- Aerial drone shot of the traffic jam near Teghoria or Haldiram
- Workers repairing potholes at night under floodlights
- Airport signage indicating delayed entry due to traffic
- Passengers walking with luggage along the roadside
Useful External Government Links
- West Bengal PWD Updates
- Kolkata Traffic Police Advisory
- Kolkata Airport (AAI) Official Site
- Urban Mobility India Conference & Resources
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