Plying of all types of heavy vehicles including buses is set to be banned on the Tallah bridge. Small cars are the only mode of transport that will only be allowed to ply, Nabanna sources said.

However, the issue of whether the bridge would be dismantled or not as per the recommendation of the public sector engineering consultancy RITES would be decided by the chief minister after a meeting tomorrow.

”Height bars would be installed on the bridge and only small cars would be allowed to ply. All types of heavy vehicles including buses would be barred from plying on the bridge. An alternative traffic route is being worked out in consultation with Kolkata traffic police,” Firhad Hakim, mayor and state urban development minister told news persons at Nabanna.

According to Lalbazar traffic department sources, northbound vehicles are likely to be diverted from Chittaranjan Avenue to Chitpore Road, Cossipore Road, Gopal Lal Thakur Road, Canal East and Canal West Road. Besides, there may be diversion of traffic from Chitpore Road to B.T. Road via either Khagen Chatterjee Road or Chitpore Lockgate flyover.

South-bound vehicles will be diverted from Chiriya More via Dum Dum Road, Nagerbazar, Jessore Road, Seven Tanks’ Road and Indra Biswas Road to reach Belgachhia or Paikpara. Police sources said that the closure of traffic movement on Tallah bridge, which serves as a vital connector of the northern suburbs with Kolkata, will hit the traffic system ahead of the Pujas.

However, no final decision has been taken yet whether to close the bridge before the festive season.

Heavy goods-carrying vehicles have been barred from plying along the bridge since last Saturday.

Mr Hakim pointed out: “The RITES agency that carried out studies of the Tallah bridge, informed us that the bridge needs to be closed down and vehicles should be stopped from plying on it till repair is carried out. I have sent a team today for final inspection to determine whether it can be used at least during the puja time to reduce congestion. A report will be submitted in this regard.”

It was learnt that RITES has recommended complete dismantling of the bridge due to its condition, which the agency reportedly characterised as “beyond repair’.

Plans are afoot to construct eight feet high height bars on three sides of the bridge that connects Kolkata and North 24-Parganas, to restrict the entry of large vehicles such as trucks or buses. An approximate amount of Rs 26 lakh is being spent to install the height bars within the next 21 days. Several people who reside under the bridge will also be rehabilitated.