Traffic restricted on Dakshineshwar Bridge for 45 days; local buses to reroute via Nivedita Setu

Traffic on Vivekananda Setu, commonly known as the Bally Bridge or Dakshineswar Bridge, will be subject to restrictions for the next 45 days starting Monday. The Public Works Department (PWD) of West Bengal is initiating critical repair work after cracks were detected on the lower structural sections along the approach road near Bally Bridge. While light motor vehicles and other general traffic will continue using the bridge, heavy passenger vehicles are being redirected to maintain safety during maintenance.

Under the revised traffic plan, hundreds of local buses operating across roughly 30 routes—including routes 54 and 56—will be temporarily diverted via the adjacent Nivedita Setu. The decision was finalized following joint coordination meetings and field inspections involving the Public Works Department, Howrah Traffic Police, and local bus owners' associations. Transport representatives acknowledged the urgency of the repairs, confirming that the temporary rerouting serves the broader public interest.

To minimize disruption for regular commuters, the district administration has formally submitted three key requests to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The administration requested permission for diverted local buses to utilize Nivedita Setu for the 45-day repair duration, alongside a complete toll waiver for these public transport buses. Additionally, officials asked to designate a safe passenger boarding and alighting zone along the national highway boundary wall parallel to the Bally Halt railway station.