Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police wishes to use the new slip road at Chingrighata that was constructed by Metro authorities and links Metropolitan with Chingrighata Crossing on the Ultadanga bound flank, all year round instead of shutting it down once the Metro construction at the crossing is completed.Sources mentioned that the current schedule allows all public buses, app buses and mini-buses to enter through the slip road and the smaller vehicles are asked to take the main EM Bypass flank.Its maximum use is during the evening when Chingrighata witnesses a huge rush. Since we are diverting a large number of north bound vehicles through the slip road, we are being able to open another channel on the Ultadanga bound flank for additional one lane of vehicles moving towards Science City. This has helped us to drastically cut down the waiting time at the Chingrighata Crossing during peak hours,” said a senior cop at Lalbazar.According to police officers, the slip road is being looked after regularly though concerns have been raised over safety of the locals. . Cops stated that most drivers and riders on this stage are now familiar with the slip road. “The multiple days of trials at peak hours mean that we do not even need to keep extra personnel at the crossing .,” said an officer.Traffic department data indicates that this dual-routing system has drastically reduced vehicular waiting times at the signal during office rush hours. The segregation of heavy passenger buses from smaller cars has also minimized the risk of minor collisions and bottlenecks at the crossing.The traffic police department plans to initiate formal dialogue with the Metro authorities and the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) to officially retain the slip road as a permanent fixture of the city’s road infrastructure. Vidyasagar Setu will be closed for 12 hours from six in the morning next Sunday for the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) to undertake the ongoing repair and rehabilitation work, including replacement of the stay and holding down cables and bearings which is being done in phases.All west bound vehicles coming along from AJC Bose Road from Zeerut Island side for Vidyasagar Setu will be diverted from Turf View via the at grade road towards Hastings crossing to avail St Georges Gate Road, Strand Road and Howrah bridge or to take a right from Hastings Crossing for KP Road. All west bound vehicles coming from KP Road from J&N Island side for Vidyasagar Setu will be diverted from 11 Furlong gate towards Hastings crossing to avail St Georges gate Road, Strand Road and Howrah bridge.Cops have also withdrawn the order to close the Chingrighata Flyover, which was planned last month, for Metro construction work on July 4 and July 5.
