The state Urban Development department has no proposal to construct a road connecting Southern Avenue with Lake Gardens flyover via Rabindra Sarobar.
Senior officials of the state Urban Development department on Wednesday said never did such a proposal come up in the department as construction of a connecting road via Rabindra Sarobar is absurd. During a discussion some months ago, a suggestion had been put forth from the city police to explore the possibility of setting up a connecting road via Ballygunge Lake.
They said the construction of a connecting road by widening the existing pathway on the southern part of the Lake that runs parallel to the railway tracks is absurd as it has narrowed down in the Western side. There is no scope for widening the entry point of the path from the Western side. Moreover, if traffic is allowed from Southern Avenue entry point, then, people cannot use the long stretch from the entry point to the southernmost part of the Lake where a
swimming club is situated and during the sessions, from April to September end specifically, over 1,000 people visit the club daily. To allow traffic on this stretch, the club will have to be closed down.
The officials added that there is no traffic jam between Gol Park and Southern Avenue-Sarat Bose Road crossing. Hence, the vehicles going from Gol Park to Lake Gardens flyover can well use Southern Avenue, go straight up and take a left turn at its intersection with Sarat Bose Road. "The volume of traffic on both Southern Avenue from Gol Park end is manageable and for this, an additional route will be not of much use."
An official alleged that some people with vested interests are spreading rumours that a road will be built affecting the greenery of Rabindra Sarobar. They are also saying that 400 odd trees will be uprooted to construct the road and environmentalists have given their reactions on the basis of a matter which does not exist.
The artificial lake was built in the 1930s by the Kolkata Improvement Trust and the earth that was excavated was used to level the land over vast areas in South Kolkata.