Check on movement of heavy goods vehicles on Kalighat bridge and Old Steel Bridge

Kolkata: The Kolkata Police has restricted the movement of heavy goods vehicles on two bridges in the city namely the Kalighat bridge on Tolly Nullah and Old Steel Bridge at Kidderpore.

The move is aimed at safety of the commuters following recommendation of Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority and RITES.

"The movement of heavy goods vehicles on both the bridges has been restricted till completion of the necessary repair work," a senior official of Kolkata Police's traffic department said. As per traffic diversion plan prepared by Kolkata Police for Kalighat bridge, the west bound heavy goods vehicles on Hazra Road would be diverted from SP Mukherjee Road and Hazra crossing further north or south. The south bound heavy goods vehicles on Harish Mukherjee Road would be diverted from Hazra Road and Harish Mukherjee Road crossing to further east or south. The south bound heavy vehicles along Baker Road will be diverted from Baker Road and Judges Court Road crossing to further west along Judges Court Road. The east bound heavy goods vehicles and the north bound heavy goods vehicles will also see diversions the details of which has been notified in the Facebook page of Kolkata Police. No heavy goods vehicles would be allowed to ply on Rakhal Das Auddy Road and Chetla Road crossing.

According to KMDA sources the pillars of 45-year old Kalighat Bridge have been damaged due to canal water. A health study has revealed that the bridge has corroded in many places on its pillars due to acidic water of the canal flowing below.

A similar set of restrictions have been imposed on the movement of heavy goods vehicles on Old Steel Bridge of Kidderpore till completion of repair work.

The east bound heavy goods vehicles along CGR Road will be diverted from CGR Road and Satya Doctor Road crossing towards Satya Doctor Road. The west bound heavy goods vehicles along CGR Road will be diverted towards New Bridge or Clyde Road from Hastings crossing.

No north bound heavy goods vehicles would be allowed to ply on DH Road from DH Road and Judges Court Road crossing and will instead be diverted along Judges Court Road.