Kolkata: Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started conducting thorough repairs of damaged stretches inside blocks in Salt Lake, peeling off the damaged bituminous layer and resurfacing with mastic and bitumen asphalt. In the last couple of days, repairs have been carried out inside AE Block, mostly at night to avoid traffic obstacles.Residents said that the repairs were long overdue as many of the inner lanes had not been fixed for years. “There had been some lanes inside the block which had not seen a fresh layer of bitumen in the last 10 years and had become terribly damaged. Only limited patchwork in a few of the lanes had been done over the years, that, too, in a hurried manner before puja,” said a resident of AE Block.Civic officials said emphasis was being given to using interlocking concrete paver blocks to increase convenience and durability. “Roads that have been damaged, and those that had not been repaired for a long time, have been identified. These stretches will be thoroughly repaired and relaid with mastic along with bitumen asphalt,” said an official.Some thoroughfares connecting blocks have been repaired and relaid with interlocking concrete paver blocks, like the stretch from Anindita bus stop to Tank 13 Island and the stretch in front of Bidhannagar North Police Station.Civic officials said concrete paver blocks withstand monsoon damage better and are easier to lift and fix during utility work. “Unlike a bituminous surface, a concrete paver block surface lasts several years and does not get damaged due to rain,” said an official.In New Town, the state has approved funding of over Rs 5 crore to New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) for taking up thorough repair and restoration of several roads across Action Areas I and II.
