EM Bypass South-Bound Flank to Become 5-Lane Near Metropolitan by Year-End.

By December, the south-bound flank of the EM Bypass, near the Metropolitan Metro station, will be significantly wider, with the addition of two lanes to the existing three-lane road. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) is constructing a bridge to widen the stretch, and the agency anticipates handing it over to traffic authorities by the end of the year.

The 55-meter by 6-meter iron bridge, featuring a 4.5-meter carriageway and a 1.5-meter pedestrian walkway over the Moila Khal (canal), is a crucial addition to the road. This bridge is being built in close proximity to the foundations of the Metro piers and is made of steel and concrete girders, weighing 240 tonnes—five times heavier than a standard Bailey bridge, known for its ability to handle tough conditions. The new structure will allow for the movement of four rows of cars, freeing up space for two-wheelers.

The current stretch has been one of the narrowest sections of EM Bypass. Metropolitan, one of the city's busiest crossings, handles around 8.8 lakh vehicles crossing a single lane daily. In contrast, the north-bound flank is a six-lane road with two large culverts built side by side by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).

Last year, Kolkata Police raised concerns about traffic congestion along this stretch and approached RVNL, the agency handling the 29 km New Garia-Airport (Orange) Line. As part of the Metro project, RVNL sought traffic blocks to build piers and a 125-meter viaduct at Metropolitan. However, the police insisted that a Bailey bridge be installed first due to the shrinking space caused by two Metro piers.

After several discussions, RVNL decided to build a stronger iron bridge instead of a Bailey bridge, citing concerns about the reduced speed and safety of the latter. "A lightweight Bailey bridge would require cars to slow down, whereas this new bridge, made of 90 tonnes of steel girder and 150 tonnes of concrete girder, provides a more robust solution," said a Railways official.

Construction of the bridge is progressing, with plans to start casting the concrete deck slab soon, followed by the application of a bituminous coating. A key feature of the bridge's design is the cantilevered pedestrian walkway, placed outside the carriageway to prevent pedestrians from infringing on traffic flow. "If the walkway were built alongside the road, pedestrians would likely block traffic," the official added.

ET