Kolkata commuters can expect temporary relief on the EM Bypass this winter, as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) prepares to level undulated portions of the busy stretch. The move, however, stops short of a full-scale repair, leaving long-term concerns unaddressed.
Short-term patchwork for a deteriorating corridor
The focus will be on the 800-metre stretch between Jyotirindra Nandi Metro station (near Metro Cash and Carry) and the Prince Anwar Shah Road connector, part of a larger plan to cover the corridor from Ruby crossing to Dhalai bridge. The mayoral council recently approved ₹1.68 crore for the work, which involves scraping uneven patches and applying a fresh layer of bitumen to match adjoining surfaces.
KMC officials confirmed that the first phase will be completed over the winter, but only the undulated portions will be addressed. “We won’t remove the top bituminous layer on stretches where there are no undulations,” said an official. Similar fixes are also slated for the stretch between Ruby crossing and Science City, though that section shows fewer damages.
Experts call for comprehensive overhaul
While patch repairs may ease commuting temporarily, road experts warn they are far from sufficient. Partha Pratim Biswas, professor of construction engineering at Jadavpur University, said, “Scraping undulations is merely patch repair. It may improve ride comfort temporarily but doesn’t strengthen the road, which is what is needed for a sustainable top layer.”
Biswas added that a thorough repair should involve removing the entire top layer, reinforcing base layers, and relaying a fresh topcoat, while addressing waterlogging-prone areas to ensure long-term durability. The last full-scale restoration of the 15.6km EM Bypass was done in 2013. Maintenance over the past decade has largely been limited to pothole patching and bitumen layering.
Despite the conclusion of Metro construction along the bypass in 2022, KMC has yet to implement a comprehensive restoration, leaving commuters reliant on stopgap solutions.
