Rain-battered DH Rd stretch to shut for concrete block laying
Times of India | 25 July 2024The work, which started around 11 pm on Wednesday, will not be carried out on the entire width of the flank at one go.Instead, half the width will be taken up at a time. “While one half of the road will be blocked from Thursday morning to Saturday for the work, the other half will be taken up between Monday and next Friday (Aug 2),” said an officer from the Diamond Harbour Road traffic guard.
Police said during the road block, all auto routes originating from near the museum, including those to and from Sarsuna and B G Press, would be relocated towards Manton, at least 200m from the current stand. “We may even divert buses through James Long Sarani in the evening. We will see what exactly has to be done once the work starts,” said an officer.
The blockade decision on the project was taken at a meeting between senior PWD officials and traffic police. D H Road has been battered so badly that vehicles are forced to slow down to manoeuvre the gaping potholes, which lead to traffic jams up to Ajanta Cinema, especially in the evening rush hours. A distance of 1.2km between the Behala police station and the Behala municipal corporation office has been taking around 25 minutes to cross, especially when it rains.
Police said apart from buses, even small vehicles, headed to Taratala, might have to diverted from James Long Sarani towards D H Road to ensure buses towards Joka and Chowrasta did not get stuck amid traffic from the opposite direction. “But nothing has been finalized. Thursday will be crucial to study the pattern,” said a Lalbazar officer, adding police had been asking PWD to repair the portion of D H Road as it was severely affecting traffic.
Police said PWD had asked for a full blockade of the Joka-bound flank of D H Road for three days. “We cannot block the entire flank at one go, we need at least 50% road space. We suggested PWD engineers and workers lay concrete blocks between 11 pm and 1 pm but PWD had some issues. After discussion, we have come to the current arrangement,” said an officer.
