Now, escalator-enabled foot overbridge at accident-prone Chingrighata: KMDA

Update: 2018-09-25 18:20 GMT

Kolkata: Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will come up with a foot overbridge with escalator facilities at Chingrighata to curb accidents.

"We have already floated the tender. It will take around a year to complete it," said state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim on Tuesday.

Hakim, who is also the chairman of KMDA, inaugurated two underpasses - one at the crossing of Beliaghata -EM Bypass and another at Kadapara (Phoolbagan)-EM Bypass, on Tuesday.

"We had initially planned an underpass at Chingrighata. But the condition of the Chingrighata flyover is not good. Experts have suggested that digging work under the flyover for underpass could cause further damage. So, we are constructing the foot overbridge," the minister added.

It may be mentioned that on February 3 this year, after two college students were run over by a speeding private bus, locals went berserk, setting as many as four buses on fire and pelted stones at the police. The demand for an underpass or a foot overbridge for pedestrians was raised strongly.

It may be mentioned that pedestrians and cyclists are barred at Chingrighata and yet people crossover from the eastern side towards Beliaghata - by foot or on cycles - to fetch water. Most of them are residents of Sukanta Nagar and Shanti Nagar, where supply of clean water is scarce. They are forced to risk their lives every day to fetch water.

"We have found out that people avoid foot overbridges mainly because they do not have escalators. From now, we will have escalator facilities at all underpasses and foot overbridges," a senior KMDA official said.

The multi-directional underpass at Kadapara-EM Bypass has as many as six gates, one of which leads to the Salt Lake Stadium. The total length of the underpass is 140 metres and the width is 6 metres. There are three escalators with modern roof sheeting and sump pit arrangement for dewatering purpose. The granite floor will also facilitate the movement of pedestrians.

The underpass at Beliaghata has a length of 100 metres and a width of 6 metres. It has five escalators and similar modern facilities like the Kadapara underpass. The total cost for construction of the two underpasses was Rs 33 crore.

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