Batanagar-Jinjira Bazaar flyover inaugurated; no toll for bikes, cars

BATANAGAR: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday inaugurated Sampriti Flyover, which connects Batanagar with Jinjira Bazaar off Taratala Road. While the CM inaugurated the bridge by remote control from Babughat, state minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim, Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee and Maheshtala MLA Dulal Das were present at the inaugural function in Batanagar. The flyover will reduce the travel time between the two points from 40 minutes to just 10-15 minutes.



Both Hakim and Banerjee said repair work on Budge Budge Trunk Road — over which the flyover has been built — will commence from Saturday.

The CM also spoke on the toll tax that will be levied on vehicles plying along the flyover. “No toll tax will be imposed on two-wheelers and four-wheelers,” she said. This effectively exempts bikes, all private vehicles and four-wheeled commercial vehicles like vans that carry vegetables.

“When we embarked on this project, the contract was awarded to a private developer. This developer and KMDA entered into a contract to let the developer collect toll tax from vehicles plying along this bridge. But we don’t impose toll tax on other bridges we have built. We have even stopped collecting toll tax from vehicles taking the second Hooghly bridge. I have received a request from local people to exempt two-wheelers and four-wheelers plying on this bridge from paying toll tax. We have, accordingly, agreed on a subsidy for such vehicles, including vegetable carriers,” Banerjee added.

Sources said the developer will be compensated by the state, which will pay for the toll not collected from two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

“The KMDA has completed construction of eight flyovers since we came to power,” Hakim said.

Abhishek said, “This flyover will benefit around 10 lakh people who commute daily along this route from Pujali, Budge Budge, Maheshtala and Asuti gram panchayat. It will also help those residing in housing projects like Batanagar Riverside Township, Eden City, Greenfield City and Purti.”