Control room to monitor diversions after closure of Talla Bridge for heavy vehicles

Kolkata: A control room has been set up at the Traffic Police Training School in Belgachia to monitor the movement of public vehicles on the diverted routes after plying of heavy vehicles including buses and mini-buses were suspended on Talla Bridge.

"A control room was inaugurated on Saturday. 10 technical and non-technical officials have been appointed to monitor the traffic movement on the diverted routes. CCTV cameras will be installed at different places to keep track of the movement of vehicles," said an official of Traffic Police Training School in Belgachia.

The decision to set up the control room comes after RITES revealed that the condition of Talla Bridge is unfit for vehicles over three tonnes. Plying of buses and mini-buses were suspended on the bridge from September 25.

Daily commuters of North Suburban Kolkata are facing immense trouble as several private buses have stopped plying through the Talla Bridge. The bus owners are claiming that they are facing huge losses after plying through alternative routes. Some of the bus owners have started running as shuttles to lower the loss.

"We will make a proper diverted route map within two-three days and place it at different public places for the convenience of the commuters. This apart, our volunteers have also been deployed at different bus stops to keep track if the conductors are charging more money than the allotted fare," the official pointed out.

Buses from routes 34B (Dunlop-Esplanade), 34C (Noapara-Esplanade), 78 (Barrackpore-Esplanade), 201 (Nimta-Nicco Park), 214 (Sajirhat-Babughat), 222 (Bonhooghly-Behala Chowrasta), 32A (Dakshineswar-Sector V, Salt Lake), 202 (Nagerbazar-Science City) and S-185 (Nimta-Howrah minibus) have stopped plying on the bridge.