The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is replacing old drainage lines under the pavement along a stretch of Rashbehari Avenue, opposite Priya cinema, that had turned nearly non-functional because of heavy silt layers.
The work to replace the old drainage lines between the Deshpriya Park crossing and the Rashbehari Avenue-Lake View Road crossing (Jugals’ sweets shop) started in the third week of November, around Jagaddhatri Puja, and will take another fortnight to complete.
The pavement will be restored a few weeks after the new drainage lines are laid.
KMC officials said there are outlet points for untreated river water along that stretch. The untreated water from the Hooghly has a high concentration of particles in suspension. Over the years the water has flown through the gully pits and the old drainage lines and as a result of sedimentation sewer lines got choked.
“The drainage lines had become almost non-functional and were the cause of frequent waterlogging on that stretch,” said an official.
“Even using machines to suck out the silt did not help much as the silt had turned hard. So we decided to lay new pipes,” said the official.
Chaitali Chattopadhyay, the councillor of Ward 90, which includes the stretch of Rashbehari Avenue near Deshapriya Park, said the stretch used to get flooded after rains.
“The water would remain along the kerb for long. Sometimes the rainwater inundated the pavement and even went inside the homes along the pavement,” she said.
“We are now laying new drainage pipes to overcome this problem,” said Chattopadhyay.
The work will take about another fortnight, she said.
The replacement work will cost about Rs 15 lakh.
Officials said that the old drainage lines were of varying diameters — 6 inches and 9 inches. The new lines will be of uniform diameter — 9 inches.
The KMC has also started to replace old drainage lines along a stretch of Dover Lane.
Saurav Basu, the councillor of Ward 86, said that the work has started from where the Singhi Park Durga Puja is held.
Waterlogging after a heavy spell of rain is common in this part of Dover Lane, said residents.
A KMC official said the old drainage lines will be replaced along a 423m stretch of Dover Lane.
“Drainage lines of wider diameters will be laid. The old pipes had become insufficient to handle the sewage and rainwater. We are laying pipes of wider diameter,” he said.
The work will cost around Rs 50 lakh.
The road and pavement restoration work will begin a few weeks after the replacement of drainage lines is completed.
KMC officials said a temporary restoration will be done, but the soil has to settle down before the final restoration.