Vidyasagar Setu Renovation to Resume Next Week, Goods Trucks to Be Diverted

The Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) said on Tuesday that work on the cables under the deck slab of the second Hooghly bridge, Vidyasagar Setu, would resume next week after being postponed due to the holiday season.

"For the next four months, a lane on the bridge's wing that faces Kolkata would be closed. After then, a lane on the other wing will be blocked for a further four months. The longest cable-stayed bridge in the nation, owned by HRBC, announced that goods trucks would not be allowed to cross the bridge during the eight-month renovations.

"Both our soldiers and our machines are ready. Next week, work will begin, the official said.

"We had an agreement with the police at our most recent meeting that the work would begin on November 17. That is no longer the case. Within a day or two, we'll let them know the revised date so they may republish the traffic alert on the detours.

To carry out the job, structural engineers from the HRBC and the PWD will be joined by a group of French specialists who have come. The official said, "We don't want to delay starting work any longer."

The police had prepared a thorough diversion plan for goods trucks, and the repairs were originally scheduled to begin in the first week of November.

"However, it was postponed due to a number of scheduled events, such as the Bengal Global Business Summit, the cricket World Cup, Kali Puja, and Chhath Puja," an HRBC representative said.

According to police, "cut-outs" were made during this period of time to allow cars to change lanes on the bridge. The creation of "cut-outs" will conclude this week, according to Lalbazar officers.

"We plan to begin work the following week. The strategy for diverting traffic is ready. An official at Lalbazar said, "We will reiterate that goods trucks will not be allowed on the bridge during the renovations.

Vidyasagar Setu has three lanes on each side.

Cars and other vehicles traveling into the city will use the remaining two lanes and one lane on the opposite side after construction is completed in the lane designated for vehicles going towards Kolkata.

The official said, "When work on the flank for vehicles headed for Howrah begins, the same procedure will be followed."

The 16 holding-down cables, which are hidden under the deck slab and are not visible, will be fixed as part of the Rs 202 crore renovation, along with some of the top cables and bearings.

According to officials, goods trucks traveling from DL Khan Road via AJC Bose Road toward Vidyasagar Setu would be detoured via Mayo Road and Esplanade before continuing on to Shyambazar and Dunlop.

Automobiles traveling from the port area toward the bridge will be detoured via Strand Road and Clyde Row before continuing on Central Avenue into Dunlop. The lorries will enter Howrah via the Bally bridge from Dunlop.

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