Building rules of South Dum Dum Municipality !

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Second Vivekananda Bridge is a technological wonder !

Location : Located 50 metres downstream from the Bally (Vivekananda) bridge, the Second Vivekananda Bridge is a technological wonder.

Challenge : The main task for designers and engineers was to construct the new bridge in such a way that the view of the Bally bridge as seen from the river was not marred and that Dakshineswar temple was not dwarfed. At the same time, the new bridge had to be wide enough to take the projected traffic load for the next 50 years.

Unique features : The Second Vivekananda Bridge is the first of its kind in the country as there is only one plane of cables holding up the 880 metre bridge along the central median.

The Second Vivekananda Bridge is the first of its kind in the country - a single profile cable-stayed bridge with the most modern design.

The height of the column is lower than the tip of the Dakshineswar temple so that the structure does not dwarf the temple.

The Construction :The construction of the 880-metre long main bridge across the river Hooghly, just 50 metres downstream from the existing Bally Bridge is the most critical activity of the project. The foundation of the bridge has been laid on 11 metre diameter x 39 metre (average) deep-well foundations with well caps located at the river bed level 15 metres below the water level of the river at high tide.
The bridge is designed to carry six-lane traffic on both carriageways. The superstructure of the main bridge consists of 254 numbers of 29-mtetre-wide single-box PSC girders weighing between 140 tonnes and 170 tonnes with inclined web and internal stiffening struts. A single plane of cables passing through 14 metre high pylons provides the additional post-tensioning, and enhances the aesthetics of the bridge by elegant proportioning of the size of the segment.
Unique designs : The four bridges in and around Kolkata are unique in their designs. Experts say that when the bridges were constructed each one was the first of its kind in India in its category.

* The Howrah bridge (Rabindra Setu): Completed in 1943, the cantilever bridge remains the biggest floating structure in the country till date.

* The Bally bridge (Vivekananda Setu): Completed in 1931, the unique design boasted a rail-cum-road through-type bridge with the road portion on the cantilever.

* The Second Hooghly Bridge (Vidyasagar Setu): Inaugurated in 1992, it is a cable-stayed bridge.

* The Second Vivekananda bridge: To be opened in 2007, it is a single profile cable-stayed bridge.

Building Rules

Environment , Economy & Pollution !

The effects of population and economic growth on the environment depend on a huge number of complex factors. The most important are the quantity or the amount of materials withdrawn from the nature, the efficiency with which they are transformed into goods and modified into services, and the environmental impacts of their use and disposal. If an economy becomes more efficient or it shifts towards products or services with lower impact, the environmental effects of a given level of activity can be reduced, while living standards increase.

Most of the major challenges set are more complex, with the negative conditions in the environment a result of the actions of a large number of people. The interdependence of a healthy and wealthy environment and a sound economy is a concept now more clearly understood, and future approaches will need to be based on a more sophisticated integration of regulatory, economic and persuasive approaches. Change will also need to be managed in an inclusive manner. Many positive actions in this direction are already executed at all levels of the community.

Dress up your construction, don't ignore structural health !

In India, specially at Kolkata, a new trend / practice has began . Most of the builders dress up their construction like a bride on her first day of wedding ! Buildings look beautiful and glamorous, but for a few days . It is only when the 'bridal' make up of the building comes off after a couple of odd seasons ; one get to see the building / structure as it actually is !



Most of the buildings are only elevation oriented, not safety oriented . Normally; a weak, poor structure is covered with beautiful cladding. That obviously does not improve the overall quality of the building because the safety is completely ignored . Exceptions are there, but as we know, majority rules ! After all, a gorgeous make up of a building gives more profit to the builders /promoters . They provide swimming pool, gymnasium, community centre , club etc. and take a decent amount of money from the buyers . They don't look after the safety, stability and quality of construction for the main dwelling structure where the buyer has to live most of the time .
In comparison, small, single unit apartments are built with some amount of safety consciousness . These builders don't have a huge money to provide exotic elevation , so they properly emphasize on the structural beauty and health !


The tiny Residential building project , where safety is the prime concern !
Holy Construction at Kolkata .


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More photos of damaged structure !

This amount of damage in a column may cause a collapse of the structure . This is another column at Nagerbazar Bus stand , Beside South Dum Dum Municipality . Nobody still haven't taken a step to repair the damage . Ironically , the Chairman of SDDM has been informed several times !

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