3 bridges unveiled to ease traffic during festive rush

Kolkata: To ease traffic movement during the Durga Puja, the state government unveiled three bridges in the city on Monday. The Izatullah Lane Bridge and the Karunamoyee canal bridge was inaugurated by state Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim while the Bailey bridge at Ultadanga was unveiled by state Fire and Emergency Services minister Sujit Bose.

"When a portion of Majerhat bridge caved in last September, we had decided to provide alternative routes to help Behala residents commute to other parts of the city. We are opening Izzatullah Lane Bridge and the Karunamoyee canal bridge today to ease the pressure on Durgapur bridge and Tollygunge bridge. This will help people from Behala and its adjoining areas to reach faster to Tollygunge metro station and Bangur Hospital. It is a puja gift to the city from Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), which has constructed the two bridges," said Hakim, who is also the chairman of KMDA.

A temple and a club had encroached the way of Izatullah Lane bridge. Member, Mayor-in-Council (Drainage) Tarak Singh took steps to shift the temple and the club to facilitate construction of the bridge.

"There are some quarters that lie under the jurisdiction of Tolly Club. We have spoken to Tolly Club authorities and shortly will be shifting the quarters to widen the road by another 2.5 m for further easing out of traffic movement," Hakim said.

The Izatullah Lane bridge, which is 21 m long, has being built at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore while Rs 7 crore has been spent on Karunamoyee Canal bridge, which is 29 m long.

The Bailey bridge, connecting Lake Town and Salt Lake, was inaugurated by Sujit Bose. The 45-metre Bailey bridge in Lake Town will cater to only one-way traffic for light vehicles from VIP Road to Salt Lake.

The Bailey bridge was planned after the Ultadanga flyover was closed as some cracks were spotted on a pier and the retaining wall. The Dum Dum Airport bound flank was opened for traffic after three days but the Bypass bound flank is still closed for repairs.

There are several pujas in Dum Dum and Lake Town areas, which draw huge crowd, so opening the Bailey bridge will surely ease traffic congestion in the area and will be a boon for pandal-hoppers.