The rush-hour traffic bound for New Town and Sector V from Ultadanga along EM Bypass is likely to be affected with the state government deciding to allow the construction of a pillar for the New Garia-airport Metro line near the Chingrighata crossing.
The government has given a two-month window to the Metro authorities to build the pillar, without which the viaduct of the Metro corridor could not be made to turn towards Salt Lake from the Bypass at the Chingrighata intersection.
The decision to hand over the site to the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the implementing agency of the Metro project, was taken at the end of a four-day trial to assess the impact of the traffic diversion plan that will be in force for the duration of the construction, officials said.
During the trial, small vehicles bound for New Town and Sector V from Ultadanga, which usually take the Salt Lake Bypass from the Chingrighata crossing, were diverted through Salt Lake Stadium Road, Broadway and a narrow road adjoining the Jal Vayu Vihar housing complex.
The evening traffic struggled to move down the narrow road along the housing complex, between the Chingrighata intersection and the Beleghata Building crossing.
“We have decided to hand over the site, which is a pavement adjoining a canal off the Chingrighata intersection, to RVNL on Tuesday so they can move in men and machinery for the construction,” an officer of Kolkata police said.
“They have to finish work within 60 days.”
Pillar 319, which will be built, is among the three on which the viaduct of the New Garia-airport Metro line will rest while turning towards Nicco Park from EM Bypass.
The other two have already come up.
RVNL, which functions under the railway ministry, has been seeking permission from the state government for constructing this pillar for five months.
In September, RVNL had wrapped up construction of pillar 318, among the three on which the curved section of the viaduct will rest, in the middle of the Chingrighata intersection.
The agency had since been seeking permission to complete the construction of the third pillar.
Construction of pillar 317, the first among the three crucial ones, was completed in 2022.
“We have put up banners and signage directing vehicles to take the diverted route. A few tweaks here and there, including that of the traffic signal timings, have to be finalised. We hope things will ease out in the next few days,” said an officer who oversees traffic along this stretch of EM Bypass.
The police have created a separate bay for pedestrians to cross EM Bypass over from one end of the Chingrighata crossing to another. A portion of the footpath along the canal has been cordoned off.
“Once motorists get used to the diverted route, the congestion should ease out,” the officer said.
“We will try and complete the construction work within the deadline. The other two pillars, too, were built within the deadline,” an RVNL official said.