From roads and intersections to flyovers and bridges – Kolkata is being adorned with colours of all hues and shades this Puja. Patches of black tarred roads now look like slices of rainbow, with red, pink, yellow and orange lanes, while the city’s busy crossings have turned into floral motifs.The new BJP government in West Bengal is busy beautifying the Capital. Cabinet Minister Agnimitra Paul was seen on Sunday making alpona, the traditional art of painting the floors and walls with rice flour, at the busy Park Circus Crossing.“This represents the road of love and brotherhood. This shows the trust people have in us after they brought us to power with a huge mandate,” Paul, who is in charge of the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs departments, was heard saying after making the alpona at Park Circus Crossing.Read | 108 idols, 64 lion statues, 1,000 pillars: How West Bengal is building a massive year-round landmark for Durga PujaThe artwork beneath the Park Circus connector is among the prominent elements of the beautification drive, which also covers Gariahat bridge and the Garia More junction. Paul said similar work had been undertaken at Red Road, while the ghats along the Hooghly were also being decorated ahead of the festival. “If time permits, we will also decorate the Rashbehari and Park Street crossings,” she said.This is BJP government’s first Durga Puja, and it is leaving no stone unturned to make it grand and colourful. On Mahalaya, which precedes the 10-day-long festival, the government had organised a mega event to mark the advent of Puja at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium. There were fireworks, laser shows, and cultural performances.Also Read | ‘Bhakti is getting lost’: How Durga Puja at Delhi’s CR Park has changedHowever, the Opposition Congress and the Left Front are not impressed with the government’s beautification drive, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money and “misplaced priorities”.“They are doing drama with people’s tax money. This has to be stopped,” state Congress president Subhankar Sarkar told The Indian Express. “A minister’s work is to provide services and make plans for the city’s development. This drama will finish the state and the country,” he added.Story continues below this adCPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty described it as the BJP government’s misplaced priority. “Is it being done with BJP’s own money or the taxpayers’ money? Are they getting funding from elsewhere? If taxpayers’ money is being used, it should be for education and employment. That should be the priority. If it isn’t, then it is unfortunate,” Chakraborty told The Indian Express.Neither Mamata Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh nor party spokesperson Pradeepta Mukherjee responded to the calls. In the previous TMC government, chief minister Mamata Banerjee painted the city blue. All government buildings, flyovers, roadside railings and even taxis were painted light blue. Mamata, in fact, had vowed to transform Kolkata into a London, something her opponents have scoffed at.Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage. Experience Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness. Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances. Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including: State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies. Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues. Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:KolkataWest Bengal