KMDA to build 2 bridges in city for smooth traffic flow during Puja

Kolkata: The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will construct two bridges in the southern fringes of the city to facilitate smooth traffic movement during the Puja, said state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim on Friday.

The decision was taken at a meeting held between the senior officials of KMDA and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Friday afternoon.

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 6-7 months. Initially the deadline to open the bridge was September, but because of the delay it is likely to be inaugurated in February 2020.

The new bridges will come up at Hijatullah Lane beside Tolly Club and beside 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 pulled down and the employees will have to be shifted. Forty trees will have to be relocated as well. "This will take some months. At present the Kolkata Police will introduce one way system in the area to facilitate movement of cars coming from Behala," said Hakim.

He also said 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. The engineers of Garden Ship Builders and Engineers will start work for constructing the bailey bridge from Monday.