12 Kolkata: RVNL has completed the construction of a new two-lane road around the crossing at Chingrighata. The 550m long and 8.5m wide road may prove to be a crucial solution for decongesting the busiest intersection of the 29km EM Bypass.
The new road, built by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the implementing agency of the New Garia-Airport Metro corridor or the Orange Line, starts near Metropolitan crossing and ends at the Chingrighata crossing via Captain Bheri. It is a sturdy thoroughfare with a 600mm thick slab culvert constructed to cover two old KMC sewer lines. Most of the road passes through the Dhapa lock pumping station, where five Metro pillars — 313 to 317 — stand.
Vehicles will move along the new stretch when night blocks are imposed for girder-launching between piers 317 and 319. When the span between 317 and 318 is launched, Ultadanga-bound vehicles will be directed through the new road while the original flank at the Chingrighata crossing is closed. The restriction is necessary because girder-launching involves a machine weighing more than 400 tonnes lifting heavy precast segments and positioning them for a viaduct.
When the span between piers 318 and 319 is launched directly over Chingrighata crossing, the New Garia-bound flank will be shut. New Garia-bound vehicles will then move through the original Ultadanga-bound flank. Cars headed for Ultadanga will continue to use the new road.
The initial plan was for RVNL to build a temporary carriageway to divert traffic while a section of the Chingrighata crossing was cordoned off for Metro work. "But the state govt doesn't want the road to be dismantled even after the girder-launching work is over. It may emerge as a vital space for vehicles to turn left and reach Chingrighata crossing during heavy traffic flow," an official said.
RVNL is chasing a March deadline to launch the Orange Line's second phase. For this, a continuous viaduct is needed beyond Ruby crossing to Sector V. The last 13 spans or 390m viaduct gap at the busy crossing is now set to be bridged.
Chingrighata remained a major hurdle for the Orange Line because getting NOCs for barricading the congested crossing was difficult. "It is heavily congested because it has merging traffic. Thousands of vehicles exiting Sector V and Salt Lake use the crossing to get on to Bypass. They merge with traffic headed towards Science City from the airport at Chingrighata," a traffic official said.
"We have sought traffic blocks at Chingrighata for one last time. In return, we have created a crucial road space that will be here even after the Metro construction is over," a Railways official said. The overnight blocks (10pm to 7am) will be implemented in two phases — five days each — when two girder spans are launched.