Kolkata: Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) will construct an additional road to manage traffic diversions while concrete decks are being placed between piers on the eastern side of the Chingrighata crossing. This decision followed an inspection on Friday by Kolkata Police and RVNL, the implementing agency for the Orange Line (New Garia-Airport corridor).
New Road Along Salt Lake Bypass
Stakeholders decided to build a new road along the canal passing through Salt Lake Bypass to bridge the 366-meter Orange Line gap at Chingrighata. Currently, traffic is diverted via another 500-meter road built by RVNL at Majherpara opposite Captain Bheri. This diversion is necessary for constructing concrete decks between piers 318 and 319.
Progress on Viaduct Construction
Last weekend, a 28-meter deck was placed between piers 317 and 318. Work is ongoing to fill the 366-meter viaduct gap across 12 piers, from P317 to P329. The most extensive traffic block involves the closure of Chingrighata crossing in two phases, with Phase II commencing on Friday night.
After launching girders atop the crossing, the 500-metric-ton launcher will move to subsequent pillars until reaching pier 329, linking Gour Kishore Ghosh metro station between Chingrighata crossing and Nicco Park. A new 60-meter-long road on the banks of the canal near where the Chingrighata flyover slopes down will be built to facilitate traffic while concrete girders are launched between piers 326, 327, 328, and 329. Construction of this road will begin next week, though traffic diversions on Salt Lake Bypass may only be required in June or July.
Phase II Work Details
During Phase II, which ends on Monday morning, 12 concrete segments weighing between 40 and 56 metric tons each will be placed to form a 34-meter deck. The 500-metric-ton girder launcher, which lifts and places concrete blocks for viaduct construction, had been stalled for 18 months at Chingrighata on EM Bypass. Now, the Orange Line work is advancing with the most critical task of filling the 366-meter viaduct gap.
Last weekend, Kolkata Police issued a 60-hour traffic block for RVNL to launch a 28-meter concrete deck between pillars 317 and 318. On Friday, another 60-hour block was enforced to build a 34-meter deck between piers 318 and 319 atop the eastern flank of the congested crossing.
Future Timeline
Once the crucial 366-meter gap work at Chingrighata is completed, the Orange Line's Beleghata (Metropolitan)-New Garia section will extend to Sector V, with a projected completion target of early 2027.
