Firhad Hakim pays visit to site where bridge is being built

Kolkata: Firhad Hakim, the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister, visited Hijatullah Lane where a bridge is coming up to ease traffic movement during the Durga Puja.

He was accompanied by senior officials of the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) and the city police. The KMDA is constructing two bridges and both will be opened before the Pujas.

The decision was taken at a meeting held between senior KMDA officials and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) last week. Hakim said due to the inordinate delay by the Railways to give clearance to the sub-structure drawing, the construction of Majerhat bridge got delayed by six-seven months. Initially, the deadline to open the bridge was September but because of the delay, it is likely to be opened in February 2020.

The bridge at Hijatullah Lane is situated beside Tolly Club and the Karunamoyee bridge. For the construction of the bridge beside the existing Karunamoyee bridge, a portion of the wall of Tolly Club will have to be pulled down. The labourer quarters of Tolly Club will have to be demolished and the employees will have to be shifted. Forty trees will have to be relocated as well.

The Kolkata Police has introduced the one-way system in the area to facilitate movement of cars coming from Behala. According to the minister, the prime concern of the city police, KMDA and KMC is to ensure steady flow of traffic.

Hakim said during the Puja, thousands of people will come from Behala to visit South Kolkata. As the construction of Majerhat bridge is not yet complete, there will be tremendous traffic jam in vast areas surrounding Taratala. He added that both the bridges will help in the smooth movement of traffic. "The Kolkata Police will introduce the one-way traffic system for smooth flow of traffic."

He also added that a Bailey bridge will come up in Chetla as the Chetla Lock Gate has become weak. The movement of heavy vehicles has been stopped along the bridge.