Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners Explained

Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners
Native Name Lang:	Bengali
Abbreviation:	HRBC
Type:	Government Agency
Status:	Active
Purpose:	Executing complex engineering projects in West Bengal
Headquarters:	Kolkata
Leader Title:	Chairman
Leader Name:	Kalyan Banerjee
Key People:	Chief Project Manager Durgapada Pan

The Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) office is a statutory organization under the Department of Transport (West Bengal),^[1] established in 1969 for the construction of Vidyasagar Setu.

In 1961, the Kolkata Metropolitan Planning Organization was set up through a resolution of the Development and Planning Department to develop a comprehensive development plan for the Metropolis, then called Calcutta. It was the first of its kind in India.^{[2] [3]}

HRBC became the main body employed by the state government for complex civil engineering projects in urban locales in Kolkata. It is the principal body charged with the maintenance of the four flyovers across the city that serve as major traffic arteries.

An abandoned 14-floor skyscraper belonging to the HRBC in the Mandirtala neighborhood of Howrah was turned into the state secretariat of the Government of West Bengal and named as Nabanna. It continued to house the majority of state government departments and offices of the Chief Minister of West Bengal as of August, 2019.^[4]

Projects

• Vidyasagar Setu: the second bridge across the Hooghly river, which was inaugurated in 1992. It remains the longest cable-stayed bridge in India.^[5]
• Calcutta Infrastructure Development Projects: projects of the Government of West Bengal. Using international development loans, this project improved traffic speed by easing congestion at important critical junctions across Kolkata.^[6]
• Flyovers: At least four flyovers, including the flyovers at major city roads like AJC Bose Road,^[7] Gariahat,^[8] and Park Street.^[9]
• Shyambazaar Crossing: improved major at-grade traffic junctions, most notably renewal of the historic Shyambazar 5-point crossing.^[10]
• Concretization of Tram tracks: upgraded Kolkata's tram tracks through the concretization of pavement.^{[11] [12]}

Notes and References

1. News: 1st major repair of Vidyasagar Setu in 25 years. 13 September 2017. 20 August 2019.
2. Web site: History of the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs departments of West Bengal. Department of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs of West Bengal. 20 August 2019. 20 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190820071649/https://www.wburbandev.gov.in/Home/history. dead.
3. Web site: A history of the HRBC. HRBC. 20 August 2019.
4. News: Why Mamata Banerjee is shifting CM office to HRBC building. Economic Times. 31 August 2013. 20 August 2019.
5. News: 10th October 1992 : The day the second bridge across the Hooghly River was inaugurated. Maps of India. 10 October 2015. 20 August 2019.
6. News: The Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners. Indiamart. 20 August 2019.
7. News: Calcutta flyover showers dust, video spreads panic. The Telegraph. 24 November 2008. 20 August 2019.
8. Web site: Project 3: The Gariahat Flyover. HRBC. 20 August 2019.
9. News: Park Streetflyover ride may end in Esplanade jam. The Times of India. 14 December 2004. 20 August 2019.
10. News: Makeover drive on North streets. The Telegraph. 24 November 2008. 20 August 2019.
11. News: Kona Expressway to lose NH tag. Times of India. 16 October 2008. 20 August 2019.
12. News: Tram tracks repair in Belgacchia revives hope of route resurrection. Times of India. 11 March 2019. 20 August 2019.