PWD to start work to dismantle Talla Bridge after January 5

Kolkata: The state Public Works Department (PWD) will start work for pulling down the Talla bridge after January 5, 2020.

This has been decided at a meeting between the state PWD, Transport, Railways, Metro Railways, Kolkata Police and Barrackpore Police Commissionerate on Saturday where a detailed traffic management plan was chalked out for a hassle free communication of the people, once the razing of the bridge starts. The Talla bridge has been closed for heavy vehicles including buses since the last week of September, this year.

RITES and Bridge Construction expert VK Raina have recommended that the condition of the bridge is beyond repair and should be pulled down. The decision has already been taken that the old bridge will be dismantled and a new bridge will come up in its place. The bridge is now open for vehicles less than 3 tonnes. "We have already finalized the traffic movement both north bound and south bound with the police officials which was discussed at length in the meeting today (Saturday). There will be two different routes, one for north bound and another for south bound traffic. The traffic plan will be effective soon after the PWD department begins work for razing the Talla bridge," said N.S. Nigam, Secretary of state Transport department.

The Metro Railways have informed the stakeholders that they are trying their best to extend the existing metro services till Noapara upto Baranagar by March 2020, to ease pressure on the road transport. The state government has already committed to the Railways for bearing the expenditure for a level crossing. "The Railways have been asked to take the nod of the Railway Board so that they can start construction of the level crossing soon," a senior PWD

official present in the meeting said.

This level crossing will be an alternative route to ease out traffic flow. The level crossing will connect Braja Dayal Shah Road with Sethpukur Road and Pranakrishna Mukherjee Road with traffic merging with BT Road closer to Shyambazar.

As per plans of the state government the level crossing — similar to the one created across railway tracks at Majerhat —will be used as a lorry corridor from 9pm to 8am. During the rest of the day, it will be used by heavy vehicles, like buses, which are now banned on the bridge.