Drainage quick-fix for inundated road that leads to Kolkata airport
Times of India | 27 May 2025
Kolkata: Passengers headed to Kolkata airport faced challenges navigating waterlogged stretches on VIP Road near Kaikhali, Chinar Park, Haldirams, and outside the airport terminal during a spell of heavy rain on Sunday morning. However, unlike previous years, the water receded quickly once the intensity of the downpour reduced.Officials from the airport and municipal bodies attributed the improvement to ongoing drainage network upgrades. On Monday, shortly after the rain intensity dropped, the water started draining out, said Pravat Ranjan Beuria, airport director. Sutirtha Basu, who had a flight to Delhi on Monday afternoon, was surprised to find the road to airport was dry in barely two hours after the rain. Officials said a major drainage overhaul is underway, which will drain logged water from airport gate number 1 to Jessore Road. From there, it will be connected to another drainage network in Kamalpur, which will finally drain out the water in Bagjola canal"We hope the network will be fully operational by next year," an official said. Sources said desilting of drains is being carried out to ensure they have optimum water-bearing capacity. Inside the airport, major work is underway to prevent inunduation, said an official.A drainage pumping station near Chinar Park also aided the mitigation.PWD is planning pumping stations at Tegharia, Joramandir, Baguiati, and Kestopur to tackle situation during continuous heavy rain and high tide by directly discharging stormwater into Bagjola canal.