Motorists teeter on crater-filled NH12

The first few phases of the nationwide lockdown had brought traffic to a screeching halt but the advantage of an empty NH12 was not used by its keeper to treat the battered and bruised surface of the highway that remained without repairs for years.

The highway connects Bakkhali down in south to Dalkhola up in north while crisscrossing the districts of South 24-Parganas, North 24-Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda and North Dinajpur.

The National Highways Authority of India has promised prompt action to treat NH12.

“Negotiating NH12 is no less an exploration as the surface has been resembling crater-filled moon surface at some spots, underdeveloped village road for long stretches and killer cesspools elsewhere for years,” said a motorist.