Chingrighata Culvert Project — The West Bengal Finance Department has granted in-principle approval to the long-awaited construction of a culvert at Chingrighata, one of the city’s most congested junctions. With design revisions submitted and greenlit, the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is now expected to initiate the tendering process that could finally provide traffic relief for thousands of daily commuters using the EM Bypass corridor.
A Solution to a Chronic Bottleneck
Chingrighata serves as a crucial junction where the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass meets the Salt Lake-bound connector. Traffic chaos here has been a daily concern, particularly during peak hours, with buses, office vehicles, autos, and pedestrians converging in a highly constricted space.
The newly approved culvert, to be built near the Shantinagar crossing, is aimed at diverting part of the southbound flow underneath the main road, separating it from the signal-based traffic stream and improving throughput across the junction.
Key Features of the Approved Plan
- Location: Shantinagar (adjacent to Chingrighata junction)
- Type: Concrete box culvert designed for vehicular movement
- Width: Approximately 4 metres to accommodate a single-lane southbound carriageway
- Function: Allows uninterrupted movement for vehicles from Salt Lake Sector IV to Bypass, avoiding traffic signals
The revised plan also includes a traffic merging zone on the EM Bypass where the culvert lane rejoins the main carriageway.
Traffic Police Recommendations Incorporated
At a recent state-level road safety review meeting, Kolkata Traffic Police officers strongly recommended the inclusion of this culvert to avoid complete gridlock during construction of the Chingrighata Metro station and overhead viaduct. As construction on the Metro’s Orange Line accelerates, temporary diversions will become necessary, and without a bypass like the culvert, east–west connectivity could be severely disrupted.
The Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) urged KMDA engineers to consider adding a second auxiliary lane to absorb further southbound pressure, especially during future metro-related closures or diversions.
Integration With Ongoing Metro Work
The Chingrighata Metro station, part of the New Garia–Airport Orange Line, is under construction just adjacent to the proposed culvert site. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), in charge of metro construction, has requested that civil works for the culvert be aligned with girder launching and station excavation timelines to avoid overlap and ensure commuter safety.
With metro piers, ramps, and station base already visible along the intersection, seamless integration between road and rail infrastructure has become essential.
Land Surveys and Early Action
KMDA has conducted soil and land use surveys around the Shantinagar area and has identified minor realignments needed for service roads and pedestrian paths. No major relocation of households is currently anticipated, though utility lines—including drainage and electric cables—may need shifting during initial excavation.
Once final financial clearance is issued, the agency will begin floating tenders for civil contractors. Officials anticipate an 18–24 month completion timeline, subject to coordination with metro construction.
Part of a Larger Urban Vision
The Chingrighata culvert is just one component of a broader traffic decongestion plan for the Salt Lake–Beliaghata–EM Bypass belt. Other linked initiatives include:
- A proposed three-way underpass and pedestrian subway at the intersection
- A future foot overbridge connecting Sukantanagar to Bypass
- Smart traffic signal upgrades and signage realignment
- Last-mile shuttle integration with Gour Kishore Ghosh Metro Station
These interventions are designed to future-proof the corridor as a multimodal mobility hub connecting North 24-Parganas, East Kolkata, and the city’s central business districts.
Expert Views
Dr. Amitabha Ray, Transportation Planner
“Chingrighata’s issues stem from poor lane discipline, intersection overload, and signal delays. This culvert will serve as a pressure valve—especially once metro traffic builds up.”
Satarupa Mitra, Local Resident
“For years, we’ve had to plan our commute around this bottleneck. If this culvert works, it will save us hours each week.”
Chingrighata Culvert Project: Remaining Challenges
Despite this progress, a few hurdles remain:
- Utility realignment: Water, drainage, and power lines may delay groundwork.
- Coordination: The culvert, metro, and road agencies must work in sync to prevent redundancies.
- Drainage planning: Ensuring the culvert doesn’t become a flooding point during monsoons.
- Pedestrian safety: Without an accompanying subway or footbridge, conflicts may persist.
External References and Further Reading
- Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA): https://kmdaonline.org
- Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH): https://morth.nic.in
- Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL): https://rvnl.org
- Unified Traffic & Transportation Infrastructure (UTTIPEC) Guidelines: https://uttipec.nic.in
- World Bank Urban Mobility Projects – India Case Studies: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport
What This Means for Kolkata
The Chingrighata culvert project reflects the city’s move toward resolving long-pending traffic nightmares through targeted engineering solutions. While broader reforms like dedicated bus lanes, signal optimization, and better enforcement are still needed, this initiative demonstrates political will and technical feasibility.
If executed on time and integrated well with metro development, the culvert could become a model of urban design done right—delivering benefits not just in vehicle speeds, but also in air quality, fuel efficiency, and quality of life for lakhs of commuters.
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