September 12, 2018
New bridge to connect Kalna and Shantipur
The State Government has given the green signal to a major project to be carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) – a bridge across the Bhagirathi connecting Kalna in Purba Bardhaman district with Shantipur in Nadia district. The project will cost Rs 1,098 crore.
The step to construct the bridge was taken up last September following the direction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to improve connectivity between the two districts.
Soon after receiving the final nod for constructing the bridge, a feasibility study was carried out by the PWD and a detailed project report (DPR) was also prepared. The process to float the tender will be carried out soon.
A senior state government official has said that the bridge will be around 800 m long, while the total stretch of the project, including the approach roads, will be 2 km. The project also includes a railway overbridge (ROB) in Kalna, which will be around 600 m long. According to him, the ground-level work will start soon.
On the Kalna side, the bridge will connect STKK Road while on the Shantipur side, it will connect national highway 34.
Construction of the bridge will be helpful to lakhs of people from both the districts as besides better connectivity it will also ensure a boost to the economy of the region. Fulia and Shantipur in Nadia are famous for their tant sarees. The construction of the bridge will help the saree manufacturers and traders from the areas.
In the absence of the bridge, one has to take Gouranga Setu to reach Shantipur from Kalna and vice versa, resulting in the travel of at least 45 km more.
Source: Millennium Post
Representative Image
