Flawed Drainage System Causes Patipukur Underpass Flooding
Dubela, Amritangshu Paul: People blamed the flawed drainage system, along with the poor quality of materials used, for the miserable condition of the Patipukur underpass. The underpass remained waterlogged even on normal days due to a poor drainage system. After rainfall, it stayed under waist-high water for nearly five hours, causing the mastic-asphalt layer to peel off.
This submerged roadway led to heavy traffic. Authorities were forced to divert traffic in both directions onto a single side of the underpass, which caused severe congestion. Engineers and other experts said substandard materials were used to build the road. However, they also mentioned that the damage would have been less if the water had drained out faster.
They said the main cause of the waterlogging was the poor drainage system. During the monsoon, the drainage line—meant to flush out excess rainwater from the Patipukur underpass and nearby areas—was 75% blocked due to silt accumulation. The CMDA promised to clean and revamp the drainage lines of the underpass and carry out regular maintenance throughout the year.
