12 Kolkata: The construction of the Kalighat skywalk has come as a ‘blessing' for pilgrims, including locals, motorists, and pedestrians using the Kalighat Temple Road. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has cleared the road of hawkers' encroachment as part of its efforts to beautify the area.
More than 150 hawkers have now shifted from the road to the pavement under the skywalk, not causing inconvenience to pedestrians or motorists.
Earlier, the hawkers had encroached upon the 500m stretch on the road that connects Syama Prasad Mukherjee Road with the Kalighat temple complex, blocking the way for motorists. The situation started improving when the civic body took up the skywalk construction project about four years ago, at a cost of Rs 83 crore. Now, the road beneath the skywalk has been kept free for vehicles. Several devotees who visit the temple have welcomed the change. For instance, Santanu Sanyal — who came to offer prayers at the temple with his family from Baidyabati on Saturday—was elated the road to be free from encroachments. "Today I saw the road empty, and the hawkers were doing business on the pavement. It is good for both pedestrians and motorists," he added.
Sekhar Chakraborty, a resident of Sadananda Road, said, "Though the skywalk awaits inauguration, it has given a facelift to the temple road. Now, cars can freely pass through the road."
"We are keeping an eye on the road and not allowing any hawker to do business on the road anymore to ensure unhindered car movement, " said a cop posted in the area. But the hawkers are uncertain whether they would be asked to shift their wares from the pavement also. Earlier, it was announced that the skywalk might be opened for pilgrims this month. Till now, the date of unveiling of the skywalkhas not been finalised, Debasish Kumar, member, mayor-in-council, KMC, told TOI on Saturday. "We are beautifying the road according to CM Mamata Banerjee's wish, and the process of streamlining hawkers in the area has started," he said.
A KMC official said, "About 176 traders from the old hawkers' corner site were relocated temporarily to the Jatin Das Park when the construction of the skywalk began in 2021.
An air-conditioned shopping complex will be opened next to the skywalk, and those hawkers will be shifted there. As of now, there is no plan to relocate the other hawkers currently selling their wares on the pavement under the skywalk."
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