Siliguri bridge to shut for repairs

TT, 13 May 2019, Siliguri: The third bridge over the Mahananda in the southwest part of Siliguri will be shut from Monday as the Bengal public works department will repair the structure that is part of Asian Highway 2.

The bridge that connects Kawakhali with Naukaghat More on Burdwan Road in Siliguri is part of AH2's 37.27kmlong India stretch which starts from Panitanki (on the Nepal border) ends at Fulbari (on the Bangladesh boundary).

On May 8, the project director of AH2 issued a letter, informing the Siliguri metropolitan police and other authorities concerned in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts about the restriction on traffic on the bridge.

"During the repair, a single lane will be open for ambulances, school buses, fire engines and other emergency vehicles. All other vehicles will have to take turnaround routes," said a source.

"The bridge is part of AH 2 and the highway is almost complete in north Bengal. In due course, it would be used by heavy vehicles. Before the entire stretch is made fully oper- A stretch of Asian Highway 2 at Kawakhali near the third Mahananda bridge in Siliguri. (Passang Yolmo) ational, it is necessary to repair the bridge and develop access roads. To ensure that the work is finished at the earliest, appropriate instructions have been passed to the agency that will execute the work," the source added.

The bridge is an important connector to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for residents of Siliguri and the neighbouring areas.

People in the rural areas of the Siliguri subdivision take the bridge to reach New Jalpaiguri station or Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts while bypassing Siliguri. "The bridge is also used by a section of tourists who arrive at the Bagdogra airport to visit the mega tourist hub at Gajoldoba," said a tour operator in Siliguri.

As the bridge will be shut from Monday, vehicles will have to take a turnaround route through NH31 via Darjeeling More to enter or leave Siliguri.

The other option is to take the Fulbari-Ghoshpukur Bypass or the east west corridor route that moves through the southern end of Siliguri.

"There is a possibility of traffic congestion in the city in the next few days. This is because some vehicles will take the Darjeeling More route to reach NJP station or the NBMCH," said Sudipta Saha, a banker.

These days, Darjeeling More remains congested for most hours of the day. Movement of additional vehicles will only add to the traffic snarls. A portion of Burdwan Road has been blocked as a flyover is under construction along the route.

Those who had been using the third Mahananda Bridge to go to south or southeast end of the town will have to move through the Burdwan Road, which would also create traffic congestion..