A 2.2km ramp from Maa flyover is being planned for commuters headed for Gariahat and beyond from the EM Bypass, even as the second arm connecting the flyover with the AJC Bose Road flyover nears completion.
Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority — the implementing agency for the elevated corridor between the AJC Bose Road flyover and EM Bypass with exits at the sevenpoint Park Circus crossing — has commissioned a feasibility study and detailed project report (DPR) for the 2.2km ramp that will turn left from the AJC Bose Road-bound arm at the Congress Exhibition Road-Syed Amir Ali Avenue intersection and then run along Syed Amir Ali Avenue till Gariahat Road before Ballygunge Siksha Sadan school.
“The ramp will allow motorists travelling to Gariahat, Jodhpur Park, Jadavpur and beyond to avoid snarls at Park Circus, Quest Mall, the ice-skating rink, Ballygunge Phari and ITI,” said an official. The time saved could be anywhere between 10 minutes in off-peak hours to 20 minutes during peak traffic. If built, the ramp will cut travel time to under three minutes.
Engineering consultancy firm Rites had earlier recommended a parallel ramp coming from the Gariahat side for motorists heading towards Rabindra Sadan. That would reduce travel time by nearly 30 minutes, said sources.
KMDA officials said the DPR will have details of the exact alignment, with a map of underground utilities that may have to be relocated. It will also detail whether the tramline on this stretch could be retained or needs to be junked. The tram link between Gariahat and Ballygunge depots had to be severed because of construction of the Gariahat flyover.
Source: Times of India
