Jadavpur: The prospect of widening Jibanananda Setu on the Prince Anwar Shah Road connector has resurfaced with Lalbazar after the owner of a building that has stopped the bridge's expansion agreed to move out.

The bridge over the railway tracks connecting Sealdah to parts of South 24-Parganas has been struggling to cope with the huge rush of vehicles headed to/from the Bypass fromo the Jadavpur police station crossing.

The access road from the Bypass-end of the bridge has three sharp bends because of kinks in the adjoining boundary wall of the Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute. This has led to traffic congestion almost throughout the day.

Talks have been to expand the bridge width. Land needed for such an expansion to the bridge's north is already with the CMDA. But illegal settlers have encroached on the land.

A double-storeyed building, registered in the name of Samadhi Pal, in the middle has been the biggest hurdle. Pal runs a factory from this address, 34 Jheel Road.

If the building goes, the battle is almost won, police said. Encroachers can be dealt with separately, they said.

Things began moving a few weeks ago when Pal, who owns Engineering Manufacturers Pvt Ltd, the factory, wrote to the CMDA, seeking an alternative plot where he could move to.

Pal is clear that he stands to gain from this "public welfare move".

"The house at its present address was built in 1950 after getting the land registered. The property is spread over five-and-a-half cottahsof land," Pal said.

"The government has assured eight cottahsof suitable land as compensation. I am prepared to give up the factory for public welfare because I stand to benefit as well."

A traffic police officer said the bridge curve, extending to about 268m, obstructs the traffic flow.

"If the Prince Anwar Shah Road connector has to emerge as a vital artery, a second span of the bridge is a must," the officer said.

Recently, CMDA and civic officials, along with traffic cops inspected the site to understand how the expansion can be planned.

During the inspection, representatives of all agencies realised the load on the connector would increase many times once the New Garia-Airport Metro link becomes operational.

A second span of the bridge will turn the connector into a vital artery along the lines of the Rashbehari connector while easing the congestion near the Jadavpur police station crossing.

"The government is in the process of working out a compensation package for the encroachers so that land is available for construction," a CMDA official said. "There are other issues and the police and the civic body are independently looking into each one."