The state government will put in place two bypasses, a 3.5km-long one first and then a 3km-long one, to reduce congestion on the arterial Diamond Harbour Road (NH117) in South 24-Parganas.
Officials across various departments in a meeting held in Calcutta last Friday on traffic snarls in the area, especially near Amtala market, resolved that the first proposed diversion would lead from Bishnupur police station and connect Diamond Harbour Road to Brahmachari Pole with connections at Pallishree (Baruipur road) and Khalpar.
However, only small private vehicles and medium vehicles would be allowed on the proposed bypass, and they have to obey speed curbs.
“Police outposts will be set up on the stretch to implement the curbs,” a transport department official said.
This apart, the state government has decided to take up the parallel construction of another 3km stretch of bypass off Diamond Harbour Road, going via Kriparampur road to connect the arterial road to Nibran Dutta Road junction via Bansta and Jajoyrampur.
The construction of the second bypass will however be taken up at a later stage.
These decisions were taken by the state transport department in the meeting attended by transport minister Dilip Mondal.
Senior officials of public works department, the National Highways Authority of India, public health engineering department, panchayat department, land and land revenue department, WBSEDCL, district officials, Baruipur police administration and local elected representatives were also present.
“The state government is concerned and is trying its best to find a solution. The proposals for the construction of two bypass roads were accepted,” Mondal said.
However, as an immediate response to the snarls, the PWD has formed a team led by an executive engineer for preliminary work at the earliest, including a survey and detailed project reports for allocation of funds, sources in the state administration said.
Traffic snarls at Amtala, particularly on a 2km stretch on Diamond Harbour Road, is a nightmare for commuters. Local residents attribute the problem to illegal constructions encroaching on the road and its pavement.
“The road is a chicken’s neck in Amtala market area. The road needs to be widened, but it is a tough job, so we are emphasising on the diversion of traffic through a bypass,” an official of South 24-Parganas district administration said.
No-objection certificates from the NH authorities will be obtained before starting work on the bypass, he added.
District magistrate P. Ulaganathan said: “PWD authorities have been advised to do a survey within two weeks, after which further action for administrative and financial approvals for the project will be initiated.”
“A report will be submitted to the district administration with details of the road alignment, the land, the utilities (on the land) and their need for shifting, the trees, the encroachment and all traffic details,” the district magistrate added.