KOLKATA’S RAINBOW FLYOVER ROW HITS A ROADBLOCK: POLICE CHIEF WITHHOLDS BLAME AS RAIN-SOAKED SKIDS TRIGGER SAFETY CRISIS

October 16, 2026

KOLKATA, OCTOBER 15: Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nanda has said there is insufficient evidence to conclusively link the recent motorcycle accidents on the freshly painted Chingrighata flyover to the decorative road surface, even as authorities announced precautionary restrictions on two-wheelers during rainfall.

The controversy erupted after videos circulating on social media showed several motorcyclists losing control and falling on the brightly painted flyover following a spell of drizzle on Wednesday morning. The footage sparked concerns about whether the glossy finish applied as part of the city’s pre-Durga Puja beautification drive had compromised road safety.

Addressing the issue on Thursday, Nanda said experts involved in the painting work had informed the police that the material used possessed anti-skid properties. According to him, paint applied over a bitumen surface should not, under normal circumstances, cause motorcycles or other vehicles to skid.

“There is insufficient evidence to establish that the accidents happened because of the painting,” the police commissioner said, maintaining that the precise cause of the incidents had not been conclusively established.

POLICE POINT TO RAIN, ROAD GEOMETRY AND RIDING CONDITIONS

Nanda identified several possible factors that could have contributed to the accidents, including wet road conditions, the sharp bend on the Chingrighata flyover and the possibility of excessive speed.

He also suggested that some motorcyclists might have been attempting to record videos or social-media reels while riding in the rain, potentially affecting their balance. However, this was presented as a possible explanation rather than an established finding about the riders involved.

The commissioner stressed that motorcycle skidding can occur on wet roads even where no decorative paint has been applied. His remarks reflected the police position that the available information did not justify attributing the incidents solely to the newly painted surface.

The footage of successive motorcycles falling has nevertheless intensified public scrutiny of the road treatment. The sequence of accidents, combined with the damp conditions, has raised questions about whether the surface offered adequate traction for two-wheelers negotiating the flyover’s bend.

TWO-WHEELERS TO BE RESTRICTED DURING RAIN

As a precautionary measure, the authorities have decided to prohibit two-wheeler movement on the Chingrighata flyover during rainfall.

Nanda clarified that the restriction would apply specifically to the Chingrighata stretch and not to the Gariahat flyover. He explained that the latter did not have a comparable sharp bend and that no similar restriction was being considered there at the time.

The measure is intended to reduce the risk of further accidents while concerns about the flyover’s safety remain under examination. It also indicates that, irrespective of whether the paint caused the earlier skids, officials are prepared to take preventive action under adverse weather conditions.

The distinction between the two flyovers is important because both were included in the city’s festive beautification programme, but the police have not proposed identical traffic restrictions for the two locations.

BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT COMES UNDER PUBLIC SCRUTINY

The painting of flyovers and other city landmarks formed part of a wider initiative to give Kolkata a brighter appearance ahead of Durga Puja. The Chingrighata and Gariahat flyovers received colourful decorative finishes as part of the programme.

The accidents have turned that aesthetic initiative into a debate over the compatibility of decorative treatments with road-safety requirements.

Critics have questioned whether glossy paint on a surface used by moving vehicles could reduce tyre grip, particularly when wet. Road-safety experts have also cautioned that the effects depend on the type of paint, the underlying surface and the conditions in which vehicles travel.

The police commissioner’s statement, however, makes clear that the causal link between the painting and the accidents has not been conclusively established by the evidence available to him.

That position does not eliminate the need to examine the surface or assess its performance under wet conditions. Rather, it leaves the question open pending a clearer determination of what caused the motorcyclists to lose control.

ROAD-SAFETY MEASURES FOLLOW THE INCIDENTS

Authorities have taken additional precautionary steps following the accidents. Road studs and reflective markers have been installed on the Chingrighata flyover, while work has been undertaken to roughen the painted surface and improve grip.

The changes reflect an effort to reduce risks while maintaining the broader beautification initiative. They also underline the practical challenge of ensuring that decorative road treatments remain compatible with the demands of everyday traffic.

The installation of reflectors can improve visibility, while measures to increase surface friction may help address concerns about traction. Their effectiveness, however, will depend on the specific conditions of the road and how vehicles behave during rainfall.

The episode has brought renewed attention to the importance of testing materials and assessing road geometry before applying decorative finishes to busy flyovers.

THE CAUSE REMAINS UNSETTLED

The Chingrighata incident has placed Kolkata’s festive makeover under scrutiny, but the police chief has stopped short of declaring the paint responsible for the accidents. His position is that the evidence is insufficient to establish a direct connection, with rain, speed, rider behaviour and the flyover’s sharp bend among the possible contributing factors.

At the same time, the restriction on two-wheelers during rainfall and the work to improve the surface demonstrate that the authorities are treating the safety concerns seriously.

The central question remains whether the painted road surface contributed to the loss of control seen in the viral footage. A definitive answer would require reliable evidence rather than assumptions based solely on the appearance of the road or the timing of the accidents.

For now, Kolkata’s rainbow flyover has become a test of how urban beautification can be balanced with public safety. The police have withheld a final judgment on the cause, while precautionary measures seek to prevent a repeat of the incidents as the city approaches the festive season.