The state PWD stopped vehicular movement through the first Mahananda bridge for repair and maintenance from Sunday.
PWD sources said the bridge is likely to remain off limits to traffic for the next three-four days.
The bridge, located along Hill Cart Road which is the busiest thoroughfare of Siliguri, connects the city’s northern parts with central and southern parts. It is located next to the Mahatma Gandhi Chowk (Airview More), a key crossing of Siliguri.
“Owing to maintenance and repair work of the bearing and expansion joints of the first bridge, traffic movement has been stopped along the bridge from today (Sunday). We hope to complete maintenance work in another three-four days,” said a senior official of the state PWD (NB construction division).
According to sources, the 228-metre-long bridge was built back in 1967.
“It is over 50 years old and needs maintenance and repairs. People may have to face inconveniences for some days but this repair work is equally necessary,” the official added.
He said that the department has been monitoring the bridge regularly and considering that the bridge is old, it was decided that the bearings and joints would now be replaced.
Vehicle plan
This move by the PWD has made Siliguri Metropolitan Police draw up new plans for traffic through Hill Cart Road.
“There will be no restriction on vehicular movement on Hill Cart Road and through the second bridge (parallel to the first Mahananda Bridge). We also believe from tomorrow (Monday), vehicular load would lessen as the state has imposed fresh restrictions in the wake of the rise in Covid cases,” said a police officer.
Police have planned to divert buses bound for destinations such as Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar from the Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus, through Eastern Bypass.
“Buses running between Siliguri and Jalpaiguri will be stopped at Naukaghat More (southern end of the city). It has also been decided to divert trucks through Naukaghat and Eastern Bypass to avoid snarls in the city,” he added.
