After Majerhat, officials mull separate routes for Gangasagar pilgrims

Kolkata: The Majerhat bridge caving-in incident cropped up at the meeting held at Nabanna on Thursday

over preparations for Gangasagar Mela as it is one of

the crucial routes that pilgrims take to reach the transit

points in South 24-Parganas through Diamond Harbour Road.

With the caving-in, the concerned officials have started pondering as to how exactly around 20 lakh pilgrims would reach the place from Kolkata. Gangasagar Mela takes place in January every year in the Sagar Island. But the planning begins from September onwards and Chief Secretary Malay De held a preparatory meeting in this regard at Nabanna on Thursday.

Senior officials from concerned departments including Public Health Engineering, Health, Public Works Department, Transport department, top brass of South 24-Parganas district administration, Kolkata Police personnel and BSNL authorities were present during the meeting.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also hold a meeting later to review the preparations and to ensure that pilgrims from all over the country do not face any inconvenience.

Sources said the alternate roads including one through Garden Reach flyover have come up as the routes through which vehicles of pilgrims will pass by in the absence of the Majerhat flyover.

"Though it is not known yet whether the Majerhat bridge will be reconstructed or not, preliminary discussions were held on Thursday on the basis of the present situation," said an official adding that the Kolkata Police officers have also come up with their suggestions in this connection.

Sources added that there were also discussions

on the issues related to the dredging in Muriganga River which is quite essential for smooth operation of vessels to transit pilgrims. The state Irrigation department has assured that all steps would be taken for proper dredging.

The state government also needs to make arrangements for buses and vessels.

Additional buses are also sent to Sagar Island normally in which pilgrims travel from transit points to the venue.