Move to restore traffic on N H 34

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 30: Mr Uttpal Dutta, additional director general (traffic), held a meeting with senior police officials of Malda including the SP and the DIG range to normalise traffic movement on the national highway 34 following the recent collapse of a Bailey bridge at Domohona in North Dinajpur.Ever since the bridge collapse, traffic movement has remained disrupted on the highway resulting in crisis of essential commodities.Thousands of lorries carrying various essential items have remained stranded on NH-34 in Murshidabad and Express highways in Birbhum. As a result, supply of essential commodities to the north Bengal districts has been affected. The ADG (traffic) reviewed the traffic situation today and instructed the police to allow up to six-wheeler vehicles loaded with essential items to reach Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur districts.Other heavy vehicles, especially those more than six-wheelers, will be allowed up to ply on the highway up to Gazole in Malda. The Malda SP, Mr DK Mondal, said that traders from Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling and the North-eastern states would be allowed to load the essential items in up to six wheeler vehicles and carry those to their respective destinations. "Goods will be unloaded at Gazole from more than six wheeler lorries and loaded in other lorries. These lorries will then be allowed to use the Bengal to Bengal road bypassing the collapsed Domohona bridge," Mr Mondal, said. "Over 250 ten-wheeler vehicles, tankers and lorries carrying different items have remained stranded at English Bazaar for the past few days," police said. The ADG later for Raiganj in North Dinjapur to observe the situation there. Meanwhile, people of Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur districts have been hit hard following an increase in the prices of essential commodities after the bridge collapse.