Kolkata: Airport-bound commuters on VIP Road will need to leave home early for the next three months from Sunday, with Bidhannagar police and PWD blocking three lanes of the airport-bound flank between Haldirams crossing and Kaikhali to facilitate construction of the final two pillars of New Garia-Airport Orange Line metro corridor.The new traffic arrangement came into effect on a trial basis around 7pm on Saturday, with police diverting airport-bound traffic to the Ultadanga-bound flank of VIP Road. A 225-metre-long stretch of the airport-bound carriageway has been cordoned off, spanning two lanes, while only one 3.5-metre-wide lane remains open for two-wheelers and small vehicles.Metro officials said the actual piling work would begin next week after the trial run. “Construction of the two pillars will be on a stretch of 100 metres. Once the trial run is over, we will start the piling work from next week. We intend to complete the construction of pillars, place the viaducts and get the elevated portion of the Orange Line ready by the end of Dec,” a Metro official said.Under the diversion plan, two lanes of the Kolkata-bound flank are being used for airport-bound traffic. Barricades have been installed to segregate the diverted lanes while road-diversion signs and caution lights have been put up.“Initially, it may cause some traffic snarls, especially during peak hours, but we have deployed additional personnel to keep traffic moving,” a senior Bidhannagar traffic police officer said.Traffic police said they would try to divert buses and heavy vehicles through the service road to keep the main carriageway relatively free. The police had initially planned a seven-day trial run from Saturday, but officials said that if traffic movement remains smooth, the full-fledged arrangement could be introduced from next week, allowing Metro authorities to begin piling work along the green verge and the barricaded stretch.Commuters, however, are apprehensive about the impact on the already busy airport corridor. “Since I live in Baguiati, I usually leave home hardly 70 minutes before flight departure. With three lanes blocked, I will now have to factor in extra travel time, especially during the evening rush,” said Rajat Sen, a frequent flyer and resident of Baguiati.The traffic police are also keeping a close watch on the situation ahead of Durga Puja, when VIP Road traditionally witnesses heavy congestion, particularly around Sreebhumi Sporting Club’s puja. In previous years, the early inauguration of the puja had resulted in prolonged traffic disruption on the arterial road.This year, however, the new organising committee has pledged to inaugurate the puja much later. It has also assured the police that adequate volunteers will be deployed to help regulate traffic around the puja venue.
