Kolkata’s rainbow-painted flyovers have triggered a road-safety controversy after a dashcam video appearing to show bikers skidding on the Chingrihata flyover went viral. The Indian Express reported that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the video, while opposition leaders have questioned whether ordinary glossy paint used in the beautification drive becomes hazardous when wet.
The video appears to show three bikers losing control on the Chingrihata flyover during what is described as the first spell of rain after the structure was painted in bright colours. Its circulation on social media has prompted claims that the flyover has become unsafe for commuters. The reported incident itself, however, has not been independently confirmed in the supplied report through an official police, transport or municipal statement.
The issue has emerged as the West Bengal government carries out a Durga Puja beautification programme across Kolkata. Flyovers in Gariahat and Chingrighata have been painted in lively colours, while the Howrah Bridge has been decorated with lights. Urban Development Minister Paul has been leading the road-painting drive and was recently seen drawing an alpana at the seven-point crossing at Park Circus. The minister also published a video from a coloured flyover in Gariahat.
The Trinamool Congress faction criticised the BJP government in a post on X, alleging that the freshly painted flyover had become a “death trap” and that bikes were skidding after the first rain. The party called for Minister Paul to be held accountable. These allegations were made in response to the viral video and were not accompanied, in the supplied report, by an official safety audit or accident record.
Congress West Bengal general secretary Ashutosh Chatterjee separately wrote to Paul and Smita Pandey, commissioner and administrator of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, warning that glossy paint on roads used by motor vehicles could increase skidding risks. His letter argued that the entire carriageway used by vehicle tyres should not be painted with ordinary household paint.
Chatterjee cited road-marking standards, stating that markings on Indian national highways are carried out in accordance with IRC:35-2015 and IS:164. He said glossy paint could make a road surface smoother and that, when wet with water, oil or diesel, its coefficient of friction could fall from 0.6–0.7 to below 0.3. According to the letter, this could increase the risk of two-wheelers and cars skidding.
The Congress leader also contrasted conventional oil paint with road-marking materials, which he said are selected for their technical performance, durability and reflective properties. He stated that oil paint does not contain glass beads, making it harder to see at night or in rainy conditions.
Environmental and green-technology specialist Somendra Mohan Ghosh told The Indian Express that ordinary paint of different shades appeared to have been used instead of thermoplastic paint. He said such paints did not contain anti-skid materials. The report did not include a response from the state government or Kolkata Municipal Corporation addressing the composition, friction performance or approval process for the paint used on the flyovers.
The controversy therefore rests on two separate questions: whether the viral footage is authentic and whether the coloured surface meets the technical requirements for a trafficked flyover. The first remains unverified in the supplied material, while the second would require documentation on the paint specification, surface preparation, skid-resistance testing and road-safety approval. The authorities named in the report are Minister Paul and KMC commissioner and administrator Smita Pandey, to whom Chatterjee’s letter was addressed.
