Kolkata: A splash of rainbow colors meant to beautify Kolkata's flyovers has raised serious road-safety concerns after three motorcyclists skidded and fell on the freshly painted Chingrighata flyover amid rain on Wednesday, October 14.

A dashcam video from a car following the riders captured the incident around midday.

The motorcyclists appear to proceed cautiously along the colourful stretch before losing their balance and falling one after another while negotiating a gentle bend on the flyover.

The incident has drawn attention to the road-painting initiative undertaken by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) and the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) as part of the city's beautification drive ahead of Durga Puja.

Rain turns freshly painted flyover into a safety concern

The newly painted road surface reportedly offered little grip in wet conditions, causing the motorcycles to skid.

Enamel paint, which lacks anti-skid properties, has been flagged as a possible reason for the slippery surface. Thermoplastic road-marking material with suitable skid resistance is generally preferred for such applications.

The episode has raised questions about whether adequate attention was paid to road safety during the beautification work, particularly on busy stretches with heavy traffic.

Chingrighata flyover is a crucial transport link connecting the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass with Sector V, one of Kolkata's major commercial and IT hubs.

Any loss of traction on the elevated stretch can seriously endanger two-wheeler riders, especially during rainfall.

Flyovers painted ahead of Durga Puja

Police carried out the painting work last week after permitting a restricted traffic block between 11 pm and 7 am.

Chingrighata was among several structures selected for the beautification initiative.

Other locations included Aurobindo Setu, Dhana Dhanye Setu, Chetla Bridge and two culverts near the Metropolitan crossing on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.

While the initiative sought to add colour to the city ahead of its major annual festival, the incident has drawn attention to the need to ensure that aesthetic upgrades do not compromise the safety of commuters.

The circumstances surrounding the incident and the concerns over the material used on the flyover place the focus on the balance between urban beautification and essential road-safety standards.