Kolkata’s Chingrighata Flyover has come under scrutiny after three bikers reportedly skidded while negotiating a turn on the recently painted stretch, prompting Bengal urban development Minister Agnimitra Paul to announce a review of the incident and the road-safety implications of the makeover.
A video purportedly recorded by a car’s dashcam and circulated on social media showed three motorcycles skidding one after another on the flyover. The incident has led to questions about whether the fresh coat of rainbow-coloured paint used on the road contributed to the loss of control, although no official finding has yet established a direct link.
Paul said she had been asked by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari to examine the facts. She said she would visit the spot with officers from her department to assess the situation. According to her, one motorcycle fell and hit another bike in front of it, but the precise reason for the fall was not known. She added that the police and administration had been informed.
The minister defended the material used for the road-painting initiative, saying the paints were anti-skid and that there should be no reason for vehicles to fall because of the paint. At the same time, she acknowledged concerns about visibility. “I have heard that the colours are dazzling for many people,” Paul said, adding that an alternative arrangement would be considered if road users were facing difficulties.
The Chingrighata Flyover is among several stretches in Kolkata that were recently painted in multiple colours as part of a beautification programme ahead of Durga Puja. The initiative was presented by the government as a way to give the city a fresh appearance before the festival and, according to Paul, had received a positive response from residents.
The incident has nevertheless placed the operational details of the programme under attention. Road-surface treatment on a flyover must function not only as a visual intervention but also within the conditions faced by two-wheelers negotiating curves, changing light and traffic movement. The available report does not establish whether the paint caused the skids, whether visibility was a contributing factor, or whether other road conditions were involved.
Adhikari said he would comment on the accident only after receiving and examining a report. Asked whether road painting had caused the incident, he questioned whether there was evidence linking the two and asked how many accidents had occurred on other painted flyovers. He said several flyovers had been painted under the beautification drive and declined to make a further comment without complete information.
The next step is the site inspection and departmental assessment announced by Paul, along with the report awaited by the chief minister. Any decision to retain the current colours or make an alternative arrangement is expected to follow that review.
