How painted road art during Durga Puja in Kolkata has created a slippery controversy in West Bengal

A dashcam video taken from a car showing three motorcyclists skidding on road with decorative painting after a light shower has gone viral on social media, raising safety concern among netizens. The video was reportedly shot on Kolkata’s Chingrighata flyover, while the exact circumstances behind the incidents have not been independently established, officials have initiated an examination of the painted stretch, with engineers questioning whether the material used provides sufficient tyre grip in wet conditions, TOI reported.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari declined to comment on the cause of the skids without further information. “Bikes can skid for various reasons. I will not make any statement without knowing what has actually happened,” he told reporters.

Senior state minister Agnimitra Paul said the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), police and civic engineers had been sent to the flyover to assess the situation. She said the painting was intended to reflect the festive season and was not a permanent feature.


“The painting has been done to keep up with the mood of the festive season and that it is not a permanent feature. We will take steps as per recommendations of the experts,” Paul told TOI on Wednesday.

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Kolkata flyover painting raises questions over road safety

A senior engineer associated with the West Bengal Traffic and Transport Planning Directorate questioned whether road-grade, skid-resistant material had been used on the Chingrighata flyover or whether ordinary decorative paint had been applied.

“The paint does not appear to be a thermoplastic road-marking material. It looks more like oil-based or emulsion paint. Road surfaces require technically-approved materials,” the engineer said, according to TOI.

Road engineers explain that tyre grip depends on friction between rubber and the textured road surface. Applying a smooth coating can cover some of the asphalt’s microscopic irregularities, potentially reducing friction. When water accumulates on the surface, reduced grip can make braking and cornering more hazardous, particularly for two-wheelers.

A road engineer with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said specially formulated coloured surfacing systems containing anti-skid aggregates can maintain adequate friction even in wet conditions.

However, engineers caution that thermoplastic road-marking paint is not automatically suitable for covering an entire carriageway. Decorative treatments spread across large road sections require appropriate coloured surfacing systems and separate assessments of surface friction.

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Authorities seek expert assessment of painted stretch

Paul said the relevant agencies would examine the painted stretch and determine the next course of action based on expert recommendations. The assessment is expected to address whether the material used is suitable for a road carrying regular traffic, particularly during wet weather.

The incident has also brought renewed attention to the safety of mastic asphalt surfaces and the materials used in road treatments. Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police said they had not received any complaints so far.

A senior Kolkata Police source told TOI that the agencies involved in the painting had been alerted to the potential risk.

“We have informed all agencies involved with the painting that this can be dangerous,” the source said.

Although the footage has prompted questions about the relationship between road decoration and commuter safety, the precise cause of the motorcycle skids remains unconfirmed. The material used on the flyover and its performance under wet conditions are among the issues requiring technical examination.