Authorities in West Bengal have initiated precautionary measures to strip recently applied beautification paint from the road near Shahid Bhagat Singh More. The decision follows a series of recent road accidents in Kolkata, raising safety concerns over painted road surfaces across West Bengal. Contracted workers from the responsible paint firm are currently engaged in scraping the decorative paint off the asphalt surface.

Key Details & Government Response

The drive comes after multiple two-wheelers slipped and crashed on Kolkata’s Chingrighata flyover shortly after decorative artwork was painted on the road surface ahead of the Durga Puja festival. West Bengal Minister and local BJP leader Agnimitra Paul clarified that the paint used for the road art was anti-skid and funded entirely through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives rather than public money.

Paul stated that it remains unconfirmed whether the paint directly caused the accidents, noting that motorcycle skids can occur due to various road conditions. In response to safety concerns, authorities have installed cat’s-eye reflectors on the Chingrighata bridge and roughened the asphalt surface on Gariahat flyover to increase friction.

The state government, in partnership with industry bodies such as CREDAI, FICCI, CII, and MCC, plans to utilize private CSR funds for urban development, including converting space under flyovers into indoor sports areas for sports like table tennis and carrom.

Backgrounder: The Road Painting Controversy

As part of an urban renewal and festive beautification drive across West Bengal before Durga Puja, several high-traffic roads, flyovers, and public spaces in Kolkata and neighboring cities were painted with decorative designs (alpana) and patterns.

Shortly after the painting was completed, multiple two-wheelers skidded on the newly painted surface on Kolkata’s Chingrighata flyover, resulting in crashes and injuries.

Why It Became a Debate

Citizens, motorists, and traffic safety experts expressed immediate concern that paint reduces tire friction—especially during damp or rainy conditions—making asphalt dangerously slick for two-wheelers.

Opposition leaders, including TMC’s Kunal Ghosh, criticized the government’s execution of the beautification drive, questioning both safety standards and administrative oversight.

To prevent similar accidents in other municipal areas, local bodies in cities like Asansol ordered the immediate removal of decorative road paint as a safety precaution while engineers re-evaluate surface safety standards.

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