MillenniumPost
Bengal

Load capacity tests for Aurobindo Setu, Bijon Setu

Kolkata: The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has decided to conduct load capacity test of two more flyovers in the city after the health study of Sealdah flyover. The KMDA has already informed the Kolkata Police verbally about their plans to have similar kind of health study for Aurobindo Setu in North Kolkata and Bijon Setu located over the Ballygunge Station railway tracks in South Kolkata. The bridges need to be shut for traffic for three days for the study.

According to sources, the KMDA wants to take up a detailed health study of these flyovers in August end or in the beginning of September. The KMDA has roped in a common agency for conducting the load test of all these three flyovers who will carry out the exercise in a phased manner. It has been decided that the Sealdah flyover will be closed for traffic movement from the evening of August 15 to the evening of August 18 (72 hours). "The KMDA has identified eight bridges in the city and their health conditions are being examined on a regular basis," said Subrata Gupta, Principal Secretary of the state Urban Development department.

"We have not received any written communication but the KMDA has informed us that after the load capacity test of Sealdah flyover, they will take up similar exercises for both Aurobindo Setu and Bijon Setu. We need to plan in advance the necessary traffic diversions for smooth management," said Santosh Pandey, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

The Aurobindo Setu at Gouribari area connects Ultadanga with the Khanna junction while the Bijon Setu connects Rashbehari Avenue with EM Bypass via Kasba. There is a huge volume of traffic that passes through them everyday and it will be a big challenge on the part of the Kolkata Police's Traffic department to manage it.

The Kolkata Police has more or less finalised plans for traffic maintenance during the period when Sealdah flyover will remain closed. All South-bound vehicles will be diverted through M G Road and Amherst Street and Lenin Sarani in order to reach Moulali Crossing. If the pressure of traffic increases at any point of time, it may get diverted from Maniktala Crossing to Amherst Street. The North-bound vehicles will be diverted using S N Banerjee Road via Janbazar/Esplanade, Bidhan Sarani, College Street and M G Road in order to reach Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road in Sealdah. On the other hand, vehicular traffic will also be diverted through Beliaghata Main Road and Canal West Road to reach North Kolkata.

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