Kalyani, March 7: A 200-meter dilapidated road stretch adjacent to an English medium primary school in Kalyani has become a blemish causing embarrassment to the local civic administration, as the tiny toddlers find it tough to reach their school walking over it. But since it failed to react by repairing the road even in past few years, the guardians have come up to appeal the district administration to intervene so that the road is repaired before any mishap occurs.
Condition of road stretch during monsoon
Guardians of the pupils of Springdale Primary School located at the city centre complex in Kalyani A-3 block alleged that the road adjacent to the school is an ‘exception’ for its poor condition in this well maintained town. They alleged that throughout the year the road that connects two arterial roads (Kanchrapara road and Hospital road) in the town and hosts important office like that of Deputy Inspector General of Police, remain inaccessible due to its dilapidated state.
Sambitpriya Saha, a professional photographer, whose daughter Sampreeta reads at lower prep section in the school said: “The road is replete with pits and pot holes which made it quite difficult to walk on. The condition of the road is so poor being strewn with ditches with no black top that during the monsoon it becomes literally inaccessible”.
Jhuma Bose, a homemaker whose son Sarijit reads at upper prep section of the school said: “Riding motorcycle over the road to avoid the mud and dirt during monsoon is another risky affair as chances of toppling are always high. In the dry season silt becomes airborne with the movement of vehicles and makes it a dusty zone creating health risk for the children. The children are compelled to use mask while walking on the road”.
Headmistress of the school Sudipta Saha said: “During the past few years we have ran from pillar to post to get this stretch of road repaired. But we were miserably failed to draw the attention of the administration. I cannot remember when the road was last repaired. I have heard that the guardians have taken initiative to get this road repaired. We support their endeavor. It is they and their wards who regularly suffer due to this road. So we have appeared administration and civic chairman as well to take action considering the plight of the students”.
Sub divisional officer of Kalyani Swapan Kundu said: “I will talk to the municipality authorities and try to ensure that the road is repaired and children get respite”
Chairman of Kalyani Municipality Sushil Talukdar admitted poor condition of the road. However, he expressed inability to take up maintenance work immediately.
“I cannot remember when the road was last repaired” – Sudipta Saha, Headmistress, Springdale Primary School
“We would definitely repair the road but only after the WBSEDCL shifts a transformer from point adjacent to the road. We have requested them for this. Moreover, the stretch will be made double lane soon. But, work could not be taken up due to delay by WBSEDCL authorities”, Chairman Talukdar said.
A WBSEDCL officer, however, said the shifting being delayed as the location for fresh installation of the transformer is yet to be finalized.