Kolkata, 15 October (H.S.) : Ahead of the first Durga Puja under the BJP government in West Bengal, a beautification drive involving the painting of streets, intersections, and flyovers across Kolkata has sparked an unexpected controversy. A section of motorcyclists has alleged that the freshly painted surfaces are causing vehicles to skid, while the bright colors create a blinding glare under direct sunlight. Following a viral video on Wednesday that purportedly showed multiple two-wheelers slipping on the rain-slicked Chingrighata flyover, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed surprise, stating he had received no official information linking the road paint to the accidents.

Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul, who is spearheading the beautification project, stated that the police and administration are actively investigating the matter and appropriate steps will be taken based on their findings. Referring to the viral video, she noted that one skidding motorcycle collided with another, making the exact cause of the initial fall unclear. The minister asserted that specialized anti-skid paints were utilized for the project, theoretically minimizing slipping hazards. However, she acknowledged receiving complaints regarding the intense glare reflecting off the painted surfaces and assured that alternative arrangements would be made if it continued to cause public inconvenience.

Addressing the issue further, Chief Minister Adhikari questioned whether such accidents were occurring uniformly across all painted flyovers in the city, declining to make additional comments without a comprehensive situational report. Later, during a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna on the eve of Chaturthi, he shifted focus to the festival, announcing an expansion of the state's financial assistance for Durga Puja committees. Approvals and a government grant of Rs 1 lakh each have been extended to 800 additional clubs. Highlighting the increase in community pujas from 45,000 to over 58,000, he described the surge as a reflection of the real change the new government has brought to the state.

The Chief Minister also announced a major festive relief package for the workers of closed tea gardens. Drawing a direct comparison with the previous administration under former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which provided a 16 percent bonus, he stated that the current government has increased the festival bonus to the maximum permissible limit of 20 percent. A total of 19,524 workers from closed tea estates will receive a direct bank transfer of Rs 5,000 along with an additional 50 kilograms of rice distributed through the labor department. Furthermore, he confirmed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the state on October 17, adding that the Prime Minister, the BJP national president, and various Union ministers have also been invited to partake in the Durga Puja festivities in Bengal this year.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh