Vidyasagar Setu will remain shut for traffic for 16 hrs on Sunday
The Statesman | 24 August 2025
Vidyasagar Setu, city’s prime lifeline connecting Kolkata and many south Bengal districts and neighbouring state Jharkhand will remain closed for vehicular traffic movement for prolonged 16 hours between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Sunday for critical repair work.
The closure will also facilitate lifting and installation of steel portal beams at a single location near the Santragachi Bus Terminus along the Kona ExpressWay (KEW) the same day.
Beams will be installed at the elevated corridor undergoing construction along the KEW.
The Kolkata Police has issued a notification regarding the full closure of the Vidyasagar Setu on 24 August.
The Setu will undergo a critical repair including replacement of stay and holding down cables.
Kolkata traffic police on Friday said, the bearings of the bridge would be replaced and therefore, all vehicles would be redirected through multiple diversion points.
The diversion would affect traffic on several major roads, including Kidderpore Road, AJC Bose Road, St Georges Gate Road and strand Road, according to the traffic police.
HRBC (Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners) is the implementing agency of the repair and maintenance work of the bridge.
The reasons given by the authorities for closure of the Vidyasagar Setu are public safety and convenience during heavy repair work. Vehicular traffic will be restricted along the Setu and its ramps during this period. The west-bound vehicles from AJC Bose Road will be diverted via Turf View to Hastings Crossing.
For east-bound vehicles from CGR Road (Kidderpore side), the diversion from Hastings Crossing will lead the vehicles to the left turn at St. Georges Gate Road.
KEW and Vidyasagar Setu-bound traffic coming to the Dankuni side are also advised to reach Kolkata through Nibedita Setu. Howrah-bound vehicles coming from Kolkata will have to use Howrah Bridge and Nibedita Setu instead of using Vidyasagar Setu.
Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys ahead of time and use alternate routes wherever possible to avoid delays.