KOLKATA: Cops on Thursday started
traffic
trials at
Chingrighata
ahead of handing over the site to facilitate
construction
of another Metro
pillar
next to the crossing. A portion of the road next to Chingrighata crossing will remain blocked till Monday to let cops understand how vehicle flow will be affected when the pillar construction begins. On Thursday, Salt Lake
Bypass
was closed to New Town-bound cars, which were directed through the service road in front of Jal Vayu Vihar.
On July 13, TOI reported that another phase of barricading will be done at Chingrighata to erect another pillar of the New Garia-Airport
Metro
corridor (Orange line) following construction of pier 318.
Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), implementing agency of the 32km New Garia-Airport corridor, has been seeking the space right next to pier 318 since it handed back the site in the middle of the crossing last Aug so that pier 319 can come up on the pavement beside the canal. "Traffic won't be hit much as most of the barricading will be on Salt Lake Bypass. Only a small part of the Sector V-bound flank has been cordoned off," a Railways official said.
Traffic was manageable on Thursday. Motorists headed towards Nicco Park and New Town from Ultadanga took the service road after being directed by the prominently mounted signs. RVNL had widened the pavement on the canal's eastern side two years ago, before the first of the many trials were conducted to block Chingrighata to erect a pier.
"The traffic circulation at Chingrighata crossing is being closely monitored. We can take a call on granting the final permission depending on the outcome of the five-day trials," an officer said.
RVNL has been maintaining that the curvaceous elevated Metro viaduct should sit safely on the three pillars - 317, 318 and 319 - while turning right towards Nicco Park. Pier 317 was built in 2022. With the completion of piers 318 and 319, a good length of the viaduct gap will be filled, paving the way for the line's Sector V extension.
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