Chingrighata Metro work hurdle cleared, 6 dates for traffic blocks scheduled

Kolkata: About a week after the Supreme Court dismissed the state government’s plea challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order on the Orange Line Metro project, Kolkata Police and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) have finalised six dates for traffic blocks to facilitate ongoing construction work.

According to sources, traffic restrictions will be implemented at the Chingrighata crossing in two phases. In the first phase, work will be carried out from May 15 to 17, during which northbound traffic along the EM Bypass will be diverted between 12 am and 5 am. The second phase is scheduled from May 22 to 24, during the same hours. Police sources said that during the first phase, northbound vehicles will be diverted via a 500-metre, two-lane road constructed by RVNL after crossing the Metropolitan bus stop.

The stretch, opened for traffic trials on January 21, currently supports partial redistribution of traffic towards Beliaghata and Ultadanga. Vehicles will pass through Majherpara before rejoining the EM Bypass near the Chingrighata intersection. In the second phase, involving the southbound flank of the EM Bypass, vehicles will be diverted from a cut-out before the Chingrihata crossing to the newly built road and will rejoin the main carriageway through another cut-out near the approach to the Chingrighata flyover.

Sources said the dates were proposed by the police and subsequently agreed upon by RVNL authorities.