Kolkata Police has warned that motorcycles and bicycles may be barred from the Chingrighata Flyover during rain after several two-wheelers fell on the wet structure, while officials said the cause had not been conclusively linked to the road paint. The warning follows a viral video showing multiple bikes skidding one after another on the flyover.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda said the falls may have occurred because riders were travelling at speed around a bend on the flyover. He said the location had been fitted with road studs, also known as cat’s eyes, to slow vehicles and improve speed control. The measures were taken after the incident triggered public debate over whether the newly applied paint had made the surface slippery.
The paint was removed from the Chingrighata bridge overnight after reports of the accidents emerged. Special blocks were also installed to reduce vehicle speed at the affected stretch. The changes came after roads across the city were given a new decorative finish ahead of the festival season, raising questions about the safety of road treatments during wet weather.
Nanda said it could not be established with certainty that the motorcycles had skidded because of the paint. According to the police commissioner, engineers involved in the work had reported that anti-skid paint was used on the flyover. He also pointed to the curve on the structure as a possible contributing factor when vehicles are driven quickly.
The commissioner said motorcycle traffic could be stopped on the flyover during rain in the future. A similar restriction could also be imposed on bicycles if conditions make the structure unsafe for two-wheelers. The proposed measure would directly affect short-distance road users who rely on the flyover to cross the Chingrighata area, although no permanent ban was announced in the report.
The police response highlights the operational challenge of managing road safety on elevated structures, where curves, wet surfaces and vehicle speed can combine to create sudden risks for two-wheelers. Unlike four-wheelers, motorcycles and bicycles have less stability on slippery surfaces, making the design and maintenance of road treatments particularly important during Kolkata’s rainy conditions.
Urban affairs minister Agnimitra Pal said specialist engineers and officials from the relevant department had been instructed to examine the reason for the accidents. She said that if the investigation found that the colours used on the road were affecting drivers’ vision, an alternative arrangement would be considered. The minister said the option that was most convenient for people would be adopted.
Nanda said the Gariahat Flyover did not present the same difficulty because it had no sharp bend or similarly risky curve. The next operational step at Chingrighata will be determined after the authorities’ assessment and their decision on whether rain-time restrictions for motorcycles and bicycles are required.
