1 6 Photos: Soumyajit DeyADVERTISEMENTThe 3-4km stretch of Diamond Harbour Road from Taratala to Ekbalpore has turned into a near-permanent dust bowl, with residents and daily commuters saying prolonged exposure to dust during the ongoing metro construction is affecting both health and livelihoods. 5 6Kalpana Sarkar, who runs a shop on Taratala Road, said the exposure is affecting her health. Doctors warn that the health risks of such prolonged exposure should not be underestimated. Akshit Gupta, a pulmonology and respiratory medicine specialist at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, said prolonged exposure can trigger chronic cough, asthma and COPD exacerbations, leading to increased healthcare use and mental stress. Several calls to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation seeking an update on dust mitigation measures went unanswered on Friday and Saturday.

Source: The Telegraph January 17, 2026 09:58 UTC