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Bengal

Underground mapping to be done beneath Talla Bridge

Kolkata: The State Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to carry out underground mapping beneath the Talla Bridge before finally pulling it down, to make sure if there are any gas or water pipelines, electric cables and sewerage lines passing through the area.

The PWD also apprehends that there may be some underground water pockets which will only be determined after mapping is conducted.

The department has already issued a notification for the tendering processes. It was learnt that the underground mapping is likely to be completed within one week.

Taking a cue from the Bowbazar incident where the Metro Railway authorities had allegedly failed to determine underground water pockets, the state government is leaving no stone unturned to locate the various utilities that lie in the underground there. It was learnt that the mapping which will be done by the PWD will finally be handed over to the agency which will draw the sketches of a new bridge in place of the existing one. Works for demolishing the existing one are expected to begin in three months.

The state government has taken the decision of demolishing the bridge after international bridge expert V K Raina stated that the bridge has already lived its life. The expert also recommended its demolition.

The PWD has a plan to begin the demolition of Talla Bridge in the middle of January following the conclusion of the New Year's Day celebrations in the city. The state government has already taken a slew of measures including the reduction of load on the bridge and restriction of traffic movement to ensure that it does not collapse.

The light motor vehicles are now allowed to ply through the bridge at a speed of 10 km per hour, following the recommendation of the expert.

The Talla Bridge which was constructed in 1962 has now been found in a precarious condition by the expert. The volume of traffic and the weight of the vehicles may further be restricted. Raina also suggested that the speed limit of 10 km per hour may have to be further reduced if the situation demands so. He had also submitted a report to the state chief secretary mentioning his observations.

A three-page report was submitted to the government pointing out that the bridge has to be dismantled as it has been in a very bad shape.

Recently, vehicles above 3 tonnes along with state-run and private buses were stopped from being allowed on Talla Bridge.

Around 65 people spreading over 200 families who used to live below Talla Bridge had been shifted and work is on to set up temporary structures to rehabilitate them. There were plans to get that done for those routes which have their terminuses near Talla Bridge. There were speed restrictions on the movement of the vehicles allowed to ply on the bridge as well.

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