Travel Time to AIIMS Kalyani to Drop to 45 Minutes

North-bound traffic from Kolkata is set to move faster with the upgraded 44.2-km Kalyani Expressway. The corridor is expected to open on March 2, ahead of Holi.

Once operational, the corridor is expected to cut travel time between Kolkata and AIIMS Kalyani to about 45 minutes. At present, the journey takes nearly two-and-a-half hours.

Official’s Statement

“The upgraded Kalyani Expressway, with 21 signal-free flyovers and a 1.3-km elevated link to the airport-bound Belgharia Expressway, is likely to open on March 2. The corridor is set to drastically cut travel time between Kolkata and AIIMS Kalyani to about 45 minutes from nearly two-and-a-half hours,” an official said.

Virtual Inauguration from Netaji Indoor Stadium

Administrative officials said chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to inaugurate the fully signal-free stretch virtually on Monday. The event will take place during the “Dol Yatra and Holi Milan Utsav” programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. Within government circles, the project is being described as the chief minister’s Dol offering to the people of Bengal.

“This Holi festival, people of Bengal will receive a big gift in the form of a full-length, signal-free Kalyani Expressway. The expressway — one of the state’s largest projects in recent times, being executed at Rs 2,500 crore — is nearing completion, with the work scheduled to wrap up by Feb-end,” a PWD official said.

Key Structures Along the Route

According to officials, the corridor includes 21 signal-free flyovers covering nearly 24 km. It also includes seven major underpasses, six light-vehicle underpasses and six pedestrian underpasses. In addition, the corridor has 70 culverts, five public toilets, one truck lay-by and 56 passenger waiting shelters.

1.3-km Elevated Link at Zero Point

A key component of the project is the 1.3-km elevated stretch at the Zero Point junction in North Dum Dum. It connects directly with the Belgharia Expressway. This structure is designed to streamline traffic movement at a busy intersection.

“The elevated link eliminates congestion at the busy crossing and allows uninterrupted movement of traffic towards Dakshineswar and the airport,” a PWD engineer said.

Reduced Travel Time and Faster Airport Access

Officials said the operational corridor will significantly shorten the Kolkata–AIIMS Kalyani journey to around 45 minutes. Travellers moving from the Belgharia Expressway–Kalyani Expressway junction to Bara Jagulia via Kanchrapara’s Kampa More are expected to take nearly 40 minutes. They will be able to complete the journey without stopping at traffic signals.

The upgraded road is set to ease traffic bottlenecks in Barasat. It will also improve airport connectivity for commuters from Nadia, Howrah, Hooghly and Burdwan. The expressway was executed by the state Public Works Department. It is being regarded as one of the most extensive road infrastructure undertakings in recent years.