Kolkata’s rainbow-coloured roads, painted as part of a beautification drive ahead of Durga Puja, have triggered a road-safety controversy after videos purportedly showing motorcycles skidding on a rain-soaked flyover went viral on social media. The West Bengal government has asked the police to examine the incident, an official said. The chief minister, however, expressed scepticism over suggestions that the paint could have caused the accidents, saying he had no information to establish such a link.
“Do accidents happen because of painting? How many flyovers have witnessed accidents?” CM Suvendu Adhikari asked reporters, visibly irritated when questioned about the incident. He said he would not comment further without knowing the full details. The controversy comes as Kolkata undergoes a colourful makeover ahead of the festive season, with stretches of roads, flyovers and bridges painted in bright hues. While the initiative has been presented as an effort to beautify the city and showcase its cultural heritage, complaints from motorcyclists about slipping tyres and glare from the freshly painted surfaces have raised questions about the choice of materials and their suitability for roads used by motor vehicles.
A video posted on social media showed multiple motorcyclists falling in succession on the rain-soaked Chingrighata flyover, though the authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified. The incident has fuelled allegations that the painted surface becomes slippery when wet, while riders have also complained that the bright colours cause glare in sunlight. Speed brakes were later installed at some of these bridges, while the paint was removed elsewhere.
Urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul, who is overseeing the beautification initiative, said the police and administration were investigating the complaints. She maintained that the paints used on the roads were anti-skid and should not, by themselves, cause vehicles to lose traction, though the government would examine the circumstances surrounding the reported accidents. Paul also acknowledged a separate concern regarding the intensity of the colours, noting that alternative arrangements would be made if commuters faced difficulties with dazzling visuals.
The Gariahat flyover, the Chingrighata flyover, and a stretch of Red Road are among the locations featuring rainbow colours and traditional Bengali decorative art. Paul stated that the work followed safety guidelines, that the paints would naturally wear off within a few months, and that the project was funded through corporate social responsibility contributions rather than taxpayers' money.
However, environmentalists and experts have questioned the appropriateness of the materials used on active carriageways. Environmentalist Somendra Mohan Ghosh warned that glossy oil paint creates a smooth film that becomes hazardous when wet, drastically reducing tyre friction. He pointed to the Indian Roads Congress guidelines to argue that conventional glossy paints should not be indiscriminately applied to vehicular surfaces, warning that such coatings can also conceal potholes and surface defects.