KOLKATA: The construction of the level crossing and approach roads on either side of the Chitpore rail yard has gained momentum after the sanction from the railways. The level crossing to the west of the frail Cossipore Bridge is meant for goods vehicles. The goods vehicle movement has suffered a serious setback ever since Tallah Bridge was made out of bounds for them in early November.
The officials are eyeing an end-February deadline to complete the work.
There are two sidings of Chitpore yard. The southern siding handles salt and northern siding is meant for perishable items and other goods. Because of the complete snapping of north-south corridors, the wagon load of goods were rotting at warehouses. Moreover, the warehouse space has always been limited, said a goods transporter. The transportation cost, thus, spiralled because of a detour by goods vehicles.
Hitherto, goods vehicles used Tallah Bridge to move in this region. But from November, Tallah Bridge was made out of bounds for heavy vehicles. A height bar prevented goods vehicles to travel along Cossipore bridge as well.
The proposal for the level crossing was mooted by chief secretary Rajiva Sinha during a high-level meeting on January 1 with senior officials of the Eastern Railway. A task force, including DRM (Sealdah), an engineer of the railways and principal secretaries to the state public works and transport departments, was formed to look into the design that would be prepared by the railways. The state needs to pay Rs 14 crore to the railways to construct the level crossing.
That's why the state government insisted on the availability of level crossing from Bagbazar-end to Turner Road so that goods vehicles can move to-and-fro Chiria More using this level crossing, said a PWD engineer. "We are now working hard to complete the level crossing by end of February. The work of approach roads on either side is on in a war-footing," he added.
Once the level crossing is ready, we can also divert buses along this route as PWD has issued caution against the health of Cossipore bridge as well.
It has been decided after an inspection on Saturday, transport department will convene a meeting with the railways and the police to work out the modalities for constructing the level crossing. Engineers, meanwhile, will work together to identify the exact quantum of railway land that will be required for building the new bridge, parallel to the existing one in Tallah.
The officials are eyeing an end-February deadline to complete the work.
There are two sidings of Chitpore yard. The southern siding handles salt and northern siding is meant for perishable items and other goods. Because of the complete snapping of north-south corridors, the wagon load of goods were rotting at warehouses. Moreover, the warehouse space has always been limited, said a goods transporter. The transportation cost, thus, spiralled because of a detour by goods vehicles.
Hitherto, goods vehicles used Tallah Bridge to move in this region. But from November, Tallah Bridge was made out of bounds for heavy vehicles. A height bar prevented goods vehicles to travel along Cossipore bridge as well.
The proposal for the level crossing was mooted by chief secretary Rajiva Sinha during a high-level meeting on January 1 with senior officials of the Eastern Railway. A task force, including DRM (Sealdah), an engineer of the railways and principal secretaries to the state public works and transport departments, was formed to look into the design that would be prepared by the railways. The state needs to pay Rs 14 crore to the railways to construct the level crossing.
That's why the state government insisted on the availability of level crossing from Bagbazar-end to Turner Road so that goods vehicles can move to-and-fro Chiria More using this level crossing, said a PWD engineer. "We are now working hard to complete the level crossing by end of February. The work of approach roads on either side is on in a war-footing," he added.
Once the level crossing is ready, we can also divert buses along this route as PWD has issued caution against the health of Cossipore bridge as well.
It has been decided after an inspection on Saturday, transport department will convene a meeting with the railways and the police to work out the modalities for constructing the level crossing. Engineers, meanwhile, will work together to identify the exact quantum of railway land that will be required for building the new bridge, parallel to the existing one in Tallah.
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