Police to agency: Can't close down Chetla Lock Gate bridge

Kolkata: Days after the KMDA wrote to Kolkata Police, complaining that several of the traffic restrictions imposed on the Chetla Lock Gate bridge were being violated, the police said they will sit with the authorities to “explore all avenues to keep traffic moving”. However, officers argued that total vigilance will not always be possible.

Police said that with Chetla Lock Gate acting as a lifeline for Durgapur Bridge, that helps decongest Chetla Central Road and Tollygunge Circular Road, they cannot afford to shut it down to traffic. Among some proposals likely to be made on behalf of cops is stopping movement of all vehicles except two-wheelers on this bridge and preventing local shanty-dwellers from hanging their clothes to dry on the railings.

“Most of the vehicles that use the bridge are bikes. We are now allowing just one-way movement. If three- and four-wheelers are taking the route, we are planning to deploy two men at two ends of the approach from the Chetla side to ensure that not more than two or three vehicles are allowed on the bridge at a time. The Majerhat bridge will be complete in the next few months and we can then shut down this bridge. We have argued with KMDA that every link of traffic connectivity here is a lifeline for residents in Behala,” said an officer.

According to a member of the bridge advisory committee, it was found that the steel structure of the bridge has been completely ravaged. “The steel superstructures of both Chetla Lock Gate bridge and Chitpore bridge are heavily corroded and, even with repairs carried out just before Durga Puja, they cannot withstand too much weight,” an official said.

The KMDA had made it clear that, in the long run, Chetla Lock Gate bridge must be dismantled. The agency has also started working on plans to set up an alternative bridge to replace Chitpore bridge. The new bridge has been planned across Circular Canal connecting Canal West Road and Kolkata Station Road to decongest RG Kar Road and reduce traffic load on the bridge that connects Belgachhia with Shyambazar.