Repair work begins on Ishwar Gupta bridge

The repairing work of Ishwar Gupta Setu started on Monday to ensure that the bridge – through which around 10,000 vehicles pass every day – can be opened as early as possible.

Huge iron structures and iron plates were being carried to the area to carry out the repair work. The movement of vehicles on the bridge, which connects Kalyani in Nadia and Mogra in Hooghly, was restricted after a crack was spotted on the bride.

The crack was found in a portion between pillar number two and three on Saturday morning.

People were even being redirected and stopped from walking on the bridge since Sunday.

Senior officials and engineers of the Public Works Department were seen busy chalking out proper plans so that the repair work could be completed as early as possible.

The engineers identified that a portion of the bridge had gotten slightly detached from another after a bearing under a girder of the bridge was replaced.

After identifying the problem, senior engineers of the department held a meeting and chalked out an elaborate plan as to how they would execute the work to complete the repairing work.

Engineering consultancy company RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) would also be consulted for the repairing of the bridge.

Sources said that initially ambulances and vehicles taking school children will be allowed to ply on the bridge. However, the engineers are yet to assess how long it would take to complete the entire work.

The bridge connects Durgapur Expressway and Kalyani Expressway. Many vehicles from Burdwan and Hooghly take the bridge to reach National Highway 34. However, with the closure of the bridge, the vehicles have no choice but to take alternate and longer routes to reach their destinations.

The trucks are seen taking Gauranga Setu in Nawadip, for which they need to travel around 40 km extra, or Bally Bridge.