A 20-metre bridge is being built over a feeder canal near Eco Park to connect New Town with Hatiara near Baguiati.

Hidco, which is in charge of setting up infrastructure in New Town, is building the bridge. The agency will also lay an 850m-long metalled road leading to the bridge, a senior Hidco official said on Sunday.

The bridge and its connecting road are expected to reduce the travel time for motorists commuting between New Town and places such as Baguiati, Hatiara and Nawpara.

Those travelling to New Town from these areas have to move through several lanes and bylanes and enter the township through the Chinar Park intersection.

“Although we live quite close to New Town and can see the buildings from our locality, we have to travel for more than 25 minutes through narrow lanes to enter New Town through the Chinar Park crossing,” said Mohammed Ashfaque, a resident of Hatiara.

A Hidco official said the bridge will be 20m long and made of concrete. The width will be 10m.

The carriageway of the bridge, to be flanked by walkways, will be 7m wide.

The bridge will be supported by five concrete pillars that will rise from the canal bed, the official said.

“The project cost has been estimated to be ₹1.33 crore,” the official said.

Those headed to the bridge from New Town will have to take a right turn on the Major Arterial Road right after the Seven Wonder Park near Eco Park gate numbers 4 and 5 and drive down till the Hanuman Temple crossing, where they have to turn right and drive for 500m.

Mohammed Sirajul Haque, the councillor of Ward 13 of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, which includes Hatiara, said the bridge would be of great help to residents of his ward.

“Many residents of my area work in New Town and have businesses there. The bridge will be of great help to them as they can directly cross over to New Town near Eco Park,” Haque said.

The bridge, he said, will also help people reach the City Centre II station of the under-construction New Garia-airport Metro line.

“The other route, through Chinar Park, witnesses long snarls during rush hours,” the councillor said.