Durgapur Bridge shut to buses and trucks after ‘structural damage’
Times of India | 27 December 2024
123 Kolkata: The Durgapur Bridge, which connects New Alipore to Alipore and Chetla, and served as the major alternative when the Majerhat Bridge collapsed, has been shut to heavy vehicles. This includes buses headed for the south and Salt Lake from Behala and Joka. The development follows fears of "considerable damage" being inflicted on the bridge following a devastating fire from under the bridge last Thursday, the fire starting from the slums located below.
While restrictions were imposed last Tuesday, the KMDA has informed traffic cops that it will take another three days to complete the ongoing health check. "We have put up temporary height barriers for now to restrict heavy vehicles. Depending on our findings, we might need more time for repairs to be completed. Then we will install a permanent height barrier depending on the ground situation," said a traffic official at Lalbazar.
On Thursday, CM Mamata Banerjee said that they restricted traffic on the bridge to carry out health checks and repair the damage caused by Saturday's fire. "We have sent a team from KMDA, police, fire and transport departments and got it tested. We found that there are damage. Hence, we have to restrict traffic and carry out health checks and repair the damage. It will incur a large cost. It comes barely days after we repaired Majerhat Bridge. The land belongs to the railways while we will take care of houses and basic needs of people who lost everything to the fire," the CM said.
She added: "We would like to request the railways to ensure that their land is not encroached upon. I also request all staying in the Uttaran project (slum dwellers) to ensure that they take all precautionary steps when they build fire. They should do it in the open, and not in a closed environment like under a flyover or within the confines of their dwellings. Just as we are concerned about the loss of property in the city, we are also concerned when infrastructure is affected as it inconveniences lakhs of people."
The diversion of buses and trucks will affect lakhs of Behala and New Alipore residents. Multiple routes like S22, SD76, and 3B that connect New Alipore to Salt Lake, Ruby and Esplanade are now running via Tollygunge Phanri, adding to the traffic pressure on Tollygunge Circular Route. The diversion of trucks, when three other bridges are already shut to them, will add pressure on the Majerhat Bridge at night, feared the police.
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