Kolkata: Spaces beneath flyovers and bridges in the city have been planned to be developed into sports zones and public play areas. State urban development & municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul has announced plans to develop vacant spaces and stretches below flyovers and bridges across the city as recreational and sports zones where indoor and tabletop sports could be played.Paul said that the stretches underneath the bridges will be netted off on both sides to create dedicated playing areas. The minister said while the spaces were too confined for sports like cricket or football, they would be ideal for indoor and tabletop games like table tennis, badminton and carrom, pointing to the existing chess-playing area under Gariahat flyover as an inspiration.“We are planning to develop the stretches below flyovers where citizens can enjoy playing games like table tennis, carrom and others. The sides of the stretches would be fenced off with nets and the place will be illuminated and decorated with lights where commuters or office-goers can spend some time playing indoor games, like the existing chess playing spot below Gariahat flyover,” Paul said.There are a few places around the city where stretches below flyovers have been developed into recreational areas. Earlier this year, about a hundred-metre stretch below Baguiati flyover at Joramandir crossing on VIP Road, which was earlier a garbage dumping spot, was converted into a vibrant community zone with a cricket and football playing arena along with zones for Zumba, skating and a pet park, enclosed with protective netting on both sides to safely separate activities from active traffic.Also earlier in New Town in 2022, a stretch below Axis Mall flyover on the main arterial road in Action Area I was developed into a vibrant public hangout zone with colourful graffiti, sitting areas and a designated area for organising small social gatherings and a pop-up zone.Paul also said discussions have already been held with different business chambers in the city on beautification of road dividers and stretches below bridges. “Business chambers can take up beautification work utilising their CSR funds. We are handing over them a list of such roads where beautification can be done,” the minister said.Earlier last year, KMDA had taken up a drive to clear unauthorised encroachment from the stretch below several bridges and flyovers across the city and to fence off the cleared stretches to prevent encroachers from returning.
