Craters on Abani Dutta Road make travelling on this stretch a nightmare

Most of the roads that connect north Howrah with Howrah Station are in deplorable condition with potholes and craters lining the stretches. Though the area falls under wards 13, 14 and 16 of Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), the civic body has taken no initiative to repair the roads.

People living in Dobson Road, Abani Dutta Road, Salkia School Road, G.T. Road, I.C. Bose Road and Fakir Bagan Road are mostly traders and businessmen with offices at Burrabazar. They have to take these roads every day to work. Dobson Road is also one of the busy marketplaces of north Howrah.

“I have to take I.C. Bose Road on my way home from Burrabazar every day. It is difficult for my driver to negotiate the potholes and craters. Constant jerking in the car causes ache all over my body,” said Kailash Chand Goyal, a businessman and resident of Dobson Road.

People living in Dobson Road, Abani Dutta Road, Salkia School Road and Pilkhana have to take I.C. Bose Road after crossing Howrah Bridge. The condition of the road is particularly bad near the Howrah fish market. There are a number of craters near the entrance of the market created by hundreds of trucks and mini trucks that carry fish to the market from different parts of the state.

North Howrah bound Bandha-ghat-Dharmatala, Belur Math-Dhar-matala, Satyabala-Dharmatala, Bhattanagar-Dharmatala buses and minibuses take IC Bose Road-Dobson Road-Abani Dutta Road route to reach G. T. Road. But the stretch of G. T. Road from Howrah Maidan to Pilkhana is equally bad.

There is a permanent crater on the road near the gate of the Bridge and Roof Company. Besides, there are a number of big and small potholes on the stretch from Bangal Babur Bridge to Pilkhana. Almost all of north Howrah and Hooghly-bound buses from Calcutta pass along G. T. Road. But most of the buses prefer to take I. C. Bose Road to avoid travelling an extra km.

A permanent crater on G T Road near the Bridge and Roof Company. Pictures by Gopal Senapati

Another reason for the buses to take this route is to take passengers from Dobson Road and Abani Dutta Road. Those who live in Nando Ghosh Road and Fakir Bagan Road have to cross G.T. Road and take Abani Dutta Road to reach Salkia School Road. But the condition of both Abani Dutta Road and Salkia School Road is bad. “Being located in one of the busiest areas of Howrah, it is surprising how Abani Dutta Road and Salkia School Road have not been repaired for so long. HMC should immediately repair the roads,” said Umaprasad Chowrasia, a businessman and a resident of Fakir Bagan Road. Abani Dutta Road is important to residents of Pilkhana and Dobson Road as it connects G. T. Road with Salkia School Road.