Bad roads, traffic snarls turn commuting in Kolkata into a recurring nightmare

From routine traffic snarls to complete standstills, Kolkata’s traffic condition has hit a new low in recent times. A distance that once took 20 minutes to cover, now takes over an hour, even during off-peak hours.

The reasons are many – shoddily repaired roads, poor drainage during rain, large potholes, frequent political or protest rallies, an increase in the number of residential complexes without a ramp-up of road infrastructure, and so much more. According to residents, almost every commute has become frustrating, with the monsoon magnifying the mess.Long commutes irk driversAccording to DJ Akash Rohira, who drives an SUV, the situation has become unbearable.

“I’ve stopped calculating the time while travelling; it takes hours,” he said. “Even at noon, it takes an hour to reach a place that should normally take 20 minutes. The other day, it took me over an hour just to navigate the Science City crossing.” Bikers also are feeling the heat. “Commuting on a bike is supposed to be easier. But traffic even during off-peak hours is making it tough,” said Sandipan Dhar, a banker & Jadavpur resident who commutes to work in New Town every day.

According to him, Google Maps too can’t keep up with real-time delays. “If the ETA shows 40 minutes, it easily takes more than an hour. My daily commute to New Town shows one hour on the map, but it takes nearly two hours,” he said.

Potholes & waterlogging add to commuter woesA source of unexpected bumps, potholes hidden under puddles are not only slowing traffic and frustrating commuters but also leading to heightened accident risk across the city. “The roads in the city are not equipped to handle monsoon. Many key zones don’t have proper drainage. This causes waterlogging that in turn damages the roads even more,” said Soutik Dutta, a senior sales executive who commutes daily from Ultadanga to Salt Lake Sector V for work.

“I’ve altered my regular route because of the current traffic situation. The government needs to act on the drainage system as it’s directly linked to road damage and daily commute delays,” he added.

Traffic hotspots to avoid

Quotes:It feels like I’m stuck in the same traffic jam every day. Hours wasted, even during off-peak hours. The roads are waterlogged, cars are getting damaged, and nothing changes – DJ Akash RohiraTraffic chaos is a regular affair at most places such as Chingrighata More, Burra Bazar etc. A five-minute stretch can easily take 30 minutes to cross – Sandipan Dhar, bank employeeI used to drive to work earlier, but now I take the metro. It’s just easier that way - Tania Chakraborty, marketing professional