New improved Majerhat bridge to cost Rs 160 crore

Kolkata: The new Majerhat bridge will be constructed at a cost of Rs 160 crore.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced that remaining portion of the existing caved-in bridge will be brought down and a completely new bridge will be constructed in its place within a time period of one year. The Chief Minister had made the announcement following recommendations of the high-power committee headed by Chief Secretary Malay De.

Accordingly, the state Public Works Department had initiated the task and a tender was floated to engage a company for construction of the new bridge. It was on October 25 when the Punjab-based company was selected on the basis of various parameters for construction of the same.

The middle portion of the bridge had caved in on September 4. Three persons were killed and several others injured in the incident. Various reasons had come up as the potent reasons leading to the caving-in of a portion of the bridge.

Since the bridge is 54-years-old, the state government had decided to bring down the entire structure and to build a new one in its place. Accordingly, steps were taken and the work to bring down the remaining portion of the bridge was carried out on a war footing. A special machine called jaw crusher was brought from Mumbai and it helped in complete the task at the earliest.

The work to bring down the structure is complete and now with the tender process over, the work of constructing the new bridge will start in the month of November itself, sources said.

The Majerhat bridge acts as an important link between Kolkata and its southern fringes. Vehicles from Kolkata to South 24-Parganas also avail the Majerhat bridge. But caving-in of the middle portion of the bridge on September 4 had left an adverse effect on the traffic movement.

The police had to find out alternate routes to divert vehicles. The police and administrative officials worked together to find out a solution so that traffic movement doesn't get affected.

The top brass of the state government had talks with the Railway authorities and a level crossing was set up. Similarly, bailey bridges were constructed across a canal which is now being used by vehicles in the absence of the Majerhat bridge.

Sources said all necessary processes to complete construction of the new bridge will be completed as early as possible.

It will be a year before the new Majerhat bridge takes shape that will ensure a complete solution to the road connectivity issue between Kolkata and its southern fringes.