Kolkata: The state Public Works Department (PWD) has initiated the removal of the large directional signboard on VIP Road to facilitate the construction of the final segment of the New Garia-Airport Metro corridor. In place of the massive hoarding, a more modest ‘T’-shaped signage has been installed to guide motorists towards New Town, Kolkata, and the airport.
The extensive hoarding, which spanned the width of VIP Road, had become an obstacle to the construction of the ramp for the Orange Line. The traffic department of Bidhannagar Police was unable to transfer the entire required site for the ramp construction, fearing that vehicles speeding down from the airport and diverted through the new road on the eastern flank might collide with one of the piers of the large signboard.
PWD officials stated that the dismantling of the large board would commence on Thursday night, once traffic levels decrease. Following the removal, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) will expand the barricaded area from the current 8 metres to 14 metres. While PWD is responsible for VIP Road, RVNL is the implementing agency for the 29-kilometre New Garia-Airport corridor. During meetings, RVNL had highlighted that one of the piers of the large hoarding was impeding the progress of the metro corridor. Consequently, PWD agreed to replace the large hoarding with a smaller one. The new ‘T’-shaped billboard is now positioned on the median just after the Kaikhali crossing.
On April 26, the traffic department handed over the site to metro authorities for ramp construction, and RVNL constructed an 11-metre wide road on the eastern flank for vehicle diversion. Currently, piling work for the ramp is in progress. “Instead of four rows of piling, it’s only possible to build two rows because only 60% of the site was available,” an RVNL official commented.
The changes are part of the broader efforts to streamline the metro construction and ensure minimal disruption to traffic flow. The collaborative efforts between PWD and RVNL underscore the importance of infrastructure development in enhancing urban connectivity. The completion of the New Garia-Airport corridor is anticipated to significantly ease travel in Kolkata, providing a much-needed boost to the city’s public transportation network.
