The pitch has lifted, exposing the brick ribs underneath. From large trucks and freight vehicles to ordinary people, everyone is travelling at risk through this uneven, pothole-ridden road. This is the scene of the Baidyabati-Tarakeswar road. Residents have been suffering from the miserable condition of this broken road for a long time.
The Baidyabati-Tarakeswar road holds immense importance for Delhi Road, and for travelling from Kolkata to Chinsurah and Burdwan. But drivers and ordinary people alike live in fear of accidents on this dilapidated road. Just a few months ago, Chief Minister Mamata Bandhyopadhyay expressed her anger about the poor road conditions at an administrative meeting. Following that, the state government has started work on creating new roads in villages and towns through the Pathashree project to bring momentum to the transportation system.
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Villages along the route bear the brunt
There are multiple villages on both sides of the Tarakeswar-Baidyabati road. This road plays a crucial role for local people travelling everywhere from workplaces to schools and colleges. Areas like Chapsara, Padmabati Colony, Chinamor, Raghabpur, Ghosha, Chinispur, Gomtiya, Patul, Parala, Diyara, and Deshapara of Singur assembly constituency fall along this route. Residents of Chinamor have reported that the road has been in poor condition for over a year. Multiple freight trucks from Delhi Road go through Baidyabati Chaumatha and take the Tarakeswar-Baidyabati road via Tarakeswar-Chapadanga to reach Arambagh. For this reason, the Tarakeswar-Baidyabati road faces vehicular pressure throughout the year.
Dust in summer, waterlogging in monsoon worsen misery
People have to endure hellish suffering from dust during summer and accumulated mud and water during the rains. The road is breaking apart and getting damaged due to reckless truck movement and excessive cargo transportation. Surajit Niyogi says, "This miserable condition of the road has persisted for more than a year. Heavy eight and ten-wheeler vehicles, and dumpers loaded with soil and stones run day and night. As a result, cyclists, bikers, and toto passengers have to travel with their lives in their hands. The administration remains indifferent."
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Daily commuters voice fear and frustration
Lakshmi Majumdar, a housewife from Padmabati Colony, says, "Along with the bad road, the fibre speed bumps have doubled the suffering." Iron screws and broken fibre are dangerously protruding from the speed bumps. Drivers claim there's a risk of accidents when trying to control vehicle speed. Samir Das, a businessman from Chapsara, says, "I go to Mahesh Bazar daily by bicycle through the Baidyabati-Tarakeswar road to sell vegetables. Rows of vehicles speed through this very road and spread out through Baidyabati Chaumatha and Delhi Road, Nowgaon junction. But all these roads are in terrible condition. I venture out on the road with my life in my hands."
Dipak Pakhira, former chief of Bighati gram panchayat in Singur assembly constituency, says, "There's a problem at one spot between Chapsara and Padmabati Colony on the Baidyabati-Tarakeswar road. That area keeps sinking repeatedly. Work was done at that location just a few months ago. Engineers from the public works department are being brought in to try for a permanent solution."
