KMDA to repair flyovers before Puja

The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has decided to conduct major repairing works of flyovers in the city and aims to complete it before the Durga Puja. Out of the flyovers which are in the list; Chingrighata, Kalighat and Sealdah flyovers need immediate patchwork. Heavy vehicles are already restricted in Chingrighata and Kalighat flyovers. The Bridge Inspection and Monitoring Cell has submitted a report on these bridges recently and this decision of conducting repair works come as a result of it. This Cell is formed by experts from the state Public Works Department, Irrigation Department, and KMDA and it came into existence after the Majerhat Bridge collapsed in September 2018. This Cell will conduct another round of inspection following which the extent of the repair works of the flyovers will be decided. A KMDA official said, "The process of health audit of these flyovers is already in place. In the first phase, eight flyovers will be examined and after conducting health audit necessary repair work will be done before Puja. A few flyovers will also go through load capacity test". A member of the Bridge Inspection and Monitoring Cell said, "There are several flyovers and bridges in and near Kolkata that have aged. All these need to undergo audits and repair work. The safety of commuters is of utmost importance. We don't want to take any chance. After a thorough repair and load-bearing-capacity check of flyovers which are damaged will be marked safe". Other bridges that will undergo repair works are Aurobindo Setu, Bijon Setu, Dhakuria bridge, Chetla Lock Gate bridge, and Karunamoyee bridge.