Newz Desk, Durgapur/Bankospa: It is supposed to be a road, but for commuters, it has turned into nothing short of a waterlogged stretch of mud, potholes and craters. Fed up with the deteriorating condition and growing accident risks, school students took to the streets and staged a protest demanding immediate repair of the road connecting Banskopa to Gopalpur in Kanksa.
The road, according to local residents, has remained in a severely damaged condition for a long time and becomes particularly hazardous during the monsoon. Large potholes filled with rainwater and thick layers of mud have made the stretch almost impossible to navigate safely. The road is regularly used by students of Gopalpur High School and Gopalpur Girls’ High School, many of whom travel by bicycle every day. Students alleged that they are forced to negotiate the dangerous stretch amid heavy traffic from industrial vehicles.
They claimed that the combination of poor road conditions and the movement of numerous heavy vehicles has created a constant risk of accidents. Students also said that their school uniforms frequently get covered in mud while travelling through the stretch, while cyclists often struggle to maintain their balance on the waterlogged and potholed road. Residents said the problem becomes even more severe during the rainy season, when the road reportedly resembles a muddy field. Despite repeated appeals to the administration for repairs, residents and students alleged that no effective action has been taken so far.
With their repeated requests allegedly going unheard, the students finally decided to stage a road blockade and protest, demanding that the authorities repair the road without further delay. Local resident Dweep Das said, “This is an extremely important road, yet this is its condition. During the monsoon, travelling through this road feels like crossing a paddy field. If the road is not repaired immediately, we will continue our agitation.”
Meanwhile, Durgapur East MLA Chandrashekhar Bandyopadhyay said that the matter had already been brought to the attention of the district administration. “We have already written to the District Magistrate regarding the issue. Work on the road will begin very soon,” he said.
The students and local residents have urged the authorities to ensure that repair work begins at the earliest, citing the safety of school children and daily commuters as a priority.
