• The Daily Hints
• 23 Aug, 2025

·            Kolkata Traffic Update Today

·            Second Hooghly Bridge Closed

·            Kolkata Vidyasagar Setu Closure

·            Howrah to Kolkata Traffic Diversion

·            Kolkata Vidyasagar Setu Closure 2025

·            Kolkata Vidyasagar Setu closed August 24th, 2025 for Santragachi construction. Explore Howrah Bridge and Nivedita Setu diversion routes

You’re heading from Kolkata to Howrah on a busy Sunday but the main bridge is totally shut down. That's the reality tomorrow, August 24th, 2025, as Vidyasagar Setu – also known as the Second Hooghly Bridge – goes offline for 16 long hours. From early morning at 5 AM until 9 PM at night, no cars, buses or trucks can cross. Why.? Big construction work near Santragachi Bus Terminus needs heavy steel beams lifted onto Kona Expressway. This isn't the first time plans like this popped up but after delays, it’s happening now. Commuters, get ready for detours via older Howrah Bridge or newer Nivedita Setu to keep moving.

Details & Context

The shutdown kicks off bright and early at 5 AM on Sunday and wraps up by 9 PM, giving workers a full day to handle tricky tasks. The main job.? Building a new 6-lane elevated corridor right by Santragachi Bus Terminus. This means lifting and placing massive steel beams on Kona Expressway, which runs close to the bridge. Safety comes first, so all traffic – from small cars to big trucks – is banned during this time. No exceptions, folks.!

This plan was supposed to happen last week but got pushed back at the last minute. Back on August 16th-17th, a 24-hour closure was announced for similar repairs, like swapping out cables and bearings on the bridge. But it got canceled due to “internal issues” with police and bridge authorities. Now, it's shortened to 16 hours but still a big deal for daily travelers. Vidyasagar Setu, opened in 1992 is a key link carrying over 100,000 vehicles daily between Kolkata and Howrah. It’s the longest cable-stayed bridge in India but needs regular fixes to stay safe amid heavy use and weather wear.

Social media is lighting up with updates. On X, official accounts like Kolkata Traffic Police shared detailed notices with maps showing detour paths. Posts show how vehicles from Kolkata side will loop through Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu) or head north to Nivedita Setu. For Howrah-bound folks, similar redirects apply. One post even warned about possible jams near Hastings and Strand Road if too many switch routes at once. Research from recent X searches reveals locals chatting about past closures – like a 3-hour daily shut in June for cable checks – and how they caused short snarls but nothing major.

West Bengal Traffic Police has laid out clear routes to ease the pain. If you're coming from south Kolkata via AJC Bose Road, get diverted at Turf View to Hastings, then onto Strand Road for Howrah Bridge. Trucks from Kidderpore.? Head through Circular Garden Reach Road to the same spots. Nivedita Setu, about 10 km north is a smoother option for longer trips but expect more traffic there too. Apps like Google Maps are already updating with these changes for real-time navigation.

Quotes

·       Voices from the ground are buzzing online. One X user from a news handle posted, “Traffic Notification in connection with full closure of Vidyasagar Setu on 24.08.2025,” sharing a photo of the official alert.

·       Another local account warned, “রবিবার বন্ধ থাকবে দ্বিতীয় হুগলি সেতু, কখন থেকে গাড়ি চলাচল বন্ধ.?” which translates to “Second Hooghly Bridge closed on Sunday, when does vehicle movement stop.?”

·       Official word comes from Kolkata Traffic Police: “Traffic Notification in connection with full closure of Vidyasagar Setu on 24.08.2025.”

·       A radio update on X said, “কোনা এক্সপ্রেসওয়ে ও বিদ্যাসাগর সেতুর একাধিক অংশে পরিকাঠামো উন্নয়ন সংক্রান্ত কাজের জন্য দ্বিতীয় হুগলি সেতু আগামীকাল ১৬ ঘন্টা বন্ধ থাকবে,” meaning “Second Hooghly Bridge will be closed for 16 hours tomorrow for infrastructure work on Kona Expressway and parts of Vidyasagar Setu.”

·       Commuters chimed in too, like one saying, “Utter mismanagement... how passengers can reroute to the station quickly.?” from an earlier similar event. These quotes show the mix of official info and real frustration building up.

Additional Information

Don't get caught off guard – here’s more to help. The Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) is behind the work, focusing on upgrading the bridge’s cables, bearings and nearby roads. This ties into bigger plans for better traffic flow in West Bengal, like the elevated corridor to cut jams at Santragachi, a busy bus hub.

Past closures give clues on what to expect. In June, a 3-hour daily shut for surveys led to minor delays with diversions working okay. Back in 2022, a 6-hour test closure saw smooth shifts to Howrah Bridge. But during protests last week on August 9, an emergency close caused 2-3 hour waits, as one user vented on X.

·       Pro tips: Leave early, use public transport like trains or ferries across Hooghly River. Check Kolkata Police app or X for live updates. If driving, fuel up and pack water – jams could stretch. Businesses near the bridge, like shops in Howrah Maidan, might see slower footfall, so plan pickups elsewhere.

Read More: Massive Damage in Tharali as Heavy Rains Trigger Chaos

Impact Analysis

This closure hits hard on daily life. Thousands commute daily for work, shopping or family visits – think office-goers from south Kolkata to Howrah factories or shoppers heading to markets. Delays could add 30-60 minutes to trips, burning extra fuel and time. Trucks carrying goods might face bigger headaches, slowing deliveries and raising costs for shops.

Economically, Kolkata-Howrah link is vital – disruptions could dent local trade by lakhs in a day. Health-wise, ambulances get priority but general traffic snarls might stress drivers. On the plus side, these fixes make the bridge safer long-term, preventing breakdowns. Environmentally, more idling cars mean extra pollution, but better infrastructure could ease future flows. Compared to full 24-hour shuts that got canceled, this 16-hour one is milder but with Sunday traffic lighter, impacts might stay low if diversions click.

Overall, it's a wake-up for better planning – like more bridges or metro links – to handle growing city crowds.

Conclusion

The Vidyasagar Setu closure tomorrow is a bump in the road but with smart detours and alerts, Kolkata can keep rolling. It highlights the need for strong upkeep on key spots like this iconic bridge. Stay safe, plan ahead and let's hope for smoother rides soon as construction wraps up.

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