PWD to hold meeting to widen stretch on Diamond Harbour Road

Kolkata: With an aim to complete the work to widen and strengthen the busiest stretch of the Diamond Harbour Road, the state Public Works Department (PWD) will hold a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Kolkata Environmental Improvement Project (KEIP) on December 1.

Sources at Nabanna confirmed that the state PWD minister Aroop Biswas will be presiding over the meeting.

According to an official, completion of the widening and strengthening of the 7.5 km stretch of the road is also depending on all the three other bodies – RVNL, KMC and KEIP.

RVNL decided to set up four underground water tanks to ensure sufficient water supply at the stations of the upcoming Joka-BBD Bag Metro.

There will be four stations along the stretch of the road that will be widened and strengthened.

At the same time, KMC is carrying out work to ensure a proper drainage system in the area and KEIP is laying underground water pipes at the same location, an official said adding that "the task of widening and strengthening of road at some parts of the stretch can be carried out only after the underground pipes are laid and the work of construction of the water tanks is complete".

In the meeting there will be discussion that how the task can be expedited so that the widening of the road can be completed as early as possible. "It is important to complete the task at its earliest as it is causing inconvenience to people with restriction caused to smooth flow of vehicles," the official said.

A major part of the 7.5 km long stretch road from Taratala to Joka will be concretised while rest of the part will be bituminous one. In such cases all the task like laying of pipes and other related works need to be carried out first.

With the increase in traffic load in the area, the decision was taken to widen the road. So it was planned to widen it to four lanes with a road divider in between along with service roads on both sides.

It is learnt that letters to RVNL, KMC and KEIP will sent soon requesting them to attend the meeting to discuss the issues so that the project that had started around two years ago can be completed at its earliest.