Kolkata flyovers get a splash of colour, traditional alpona ahead of Durga Puja

Kolkata's flyovers are getting a festive splash of colour ahead of Durga Puja 2026, with vibrant paintwork and traditional Bengali alpona designs transforming the city's familiar landmarks.Kolkata flyovers get a splash of colour, traditional alpona ahead of Durga Puja (Photos: Abhishek/X and bangali_ana/Instagram)New Delhi,Oct 12, 2026 16:39 ISTIn the run-up to Durga Puja, flyovers in Kolkata are getting a colourful makeover, with vibrant shades of orange, pink and yellow transforming familiar stretches of concrete into festive canvases.The West Bengal government has initiated the colourful makeover ahead of Durga Puja, the state’s biggest annual festival. It features bright festive colours and intricate Bengali alpona designs, a traditional folk art form known for its decorative patterns, traditionally drawn using rice paste during festivals and religious ceremonies.Videos shared by local bloggers on social media captured the ongoing painting work at prominent structures, including the Gariahat and Chingrighata flyovers.A vlogger took a bike ride with a friend along the Gariahat flyover to document the transformation. In a video shared on his Instagram page Bangali-Ana, he captured one side of the flyover painted in bright colours while traffic continued to move along the other side. “You can see one side of the flyover has been painted while the other side hasn’t been painted as yet,” he said in the video.The festive makeover has also delighted Reddit users. A Kolkata resident shared a bird’s-eye view of the Chingrighata flyover after its Puja-special makeover, capturing the vivid bands of colours inspired by the rainbow.Here's a video of the Chingrighata flyover:Kolkata flyover painted in colours https://t.co/jfLkUJDVc0— Abhishek (@ImAbhishek7_) October 12, 2026Traditional alpona designs have also adorned spaces below the Park Circus connector and junctions such as Garia More, news agency PTI reported. Several other popular bridges and flyovers are also set to receive similar makeovers ahead of the celebrations.Inspecting the work at Gariahat bridge, Bengal urban development minister Agnimitra Paul described the makeover as a gesture of love and faith, linking it to the public’s trust in the government.Paul also urged residents to visit other beautified public spaces across the city, including Red Road and the ghats, and highlighted the traditional alpona designs being created under the leadership of the Kolkata Police Commissioner.“Today, at the Gariahat bridge and Shyambazar junction, more alpona is being drawn. If time permits, we might also do some alpona at Park Street and Raj Bhavan. All of this is for you,” she said, adding, “Please stay by our side, stay well, and have a wonderful Durga Puja,” Paul said.With Durga Puja approaching, the colourful flyovers and traditional motifs are adding another layer to Kolkata’s festive preparations, bringing the spirit of the celebrations beyond pandals and neighbourhood streets and onto the city’s everyday landmarks.- Ends(With inputs from Tapas Kumar Sengupta)