![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-77236114,imgsize-61003,width-400,resizemode-4\/77236114.jpg\" "\\"Hawkers")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\nHawkers below Sealdah flyover<\/span><\/p>\n KOLKATA: The bridge advisory committee appointed by the government has recommended that all settlements below various bridges and flyovers across the city should be relocated. Bridge experts said these are detrimental to the structural healths of the bridges like Bijon setu, Sealdah flyover and Aurobindo setu.
The experts said that before the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) takes up full-fledged repair and strengthening work of Sealdah flyover, Aurobindo Setu and Bijon Setu in a few months\u2019 time, the hawkers and other settlements below these bridges will have to be relocated.
The experts are concerned over the makeshift structures causing harm to the supporting wall and pillars of the bridges. A few days ago, cops were called in to stop a makeshift structure from coming up below Bijon Setu after the matter came to the KMDA\u2019s notice.
The technical modalities have been completed as the KMDA officials are waiting for the financial approval from the state cabinet to take up major repairs of several bridges on a priority basis.
The four bridges where the work will be taken up on a priority basis are Ultadanga flyover, Baghajatin ROB, Chingrighata flyover and Kalighat bridge followed by other bridges like Sealdah flyover, Aurobindo Setu and Bijon Setu. The KMDA officials are already taking up the work to remove the extra bitumen layer to reduce load pressure from Sealdah flyover, Aurobindo Setu and some other bridges. Removal of tram lines on Sealdah flyover has also been planned.
Sources said the shifting of the hawkers with their settlements had already been discussed earlier, but no solution could be achieved.
National Hawker Federation general secretary Shaktiman Ghosh said they were waiting for a dialogue with the government over the issue. \u201cRepairing the bridges is necessary. Hawkers\u2019 livelihood should be considered. We are ready to discuss it with the government,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n