Hakim inaugurates Chetla Lockgate Bridge

Kolkata: State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim said that the slum dwellers of the Chetla Lockgate area would be rehabilitated to flats constructed under the Banglar Bari scheme as soon as the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) authorities grant permission for land use.

“I have been constantly seeking permission from the authorities of SMP, Kolkata for the last few years, to allow us to take over some of its unused land for the construction of flats for the slum dwellers of Chetla Lockgate area but have not received any response. We are hopeful that the INDIA alliance will come to power next year toppling the BJP from the Centre and then the necessary nod from the Shipping ministry will not be a problem. Mala Roy who is the MP of South Kolkata will take it up with the new government and do the needful in this regard,” Hakim said while inaugurating the refurbished Chetla Lockgate bridge constructed by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).

Roy was also present at the inaugural programme along with Debasish Kumar, MLA from Rashbehari and engineers from KMDA.

The linkage between Chetla and New Alipore will be facilitated with the newly constructed bridge of length 26.33 metres and a width of 10.50 metres.

The old bridge that was constructed 60 years back had suffered cracks at various places and required urgent repair.

The bridge proved to be very effective as traffic diversion was made through the Chetla Lockgate Bridge when the Majerhat Bridge caved in.

“We could have started the work much earlier but soon after the newly constructed Majerhat Bridge was made functional, Covid-19 hit the country and the project got delayed. The bridge received sanction in 2022 and I am happy that it has been completed without much delay. During work, I conducted a third-party inspection to ascertain the quality of materials used,” Hakim said.

The total cost of the construction of the renovated bridge has been Rs 6.13 crore.