Traffic movement on Santragachhi bridge will be restricted for 15 days from Wednesday because of the second phase of its repair.

The bridge on Kona Expressway, a vital link between Calcutta and Howrah, will be totally shut to vehicular traffic on two weekends (from Saturday midnight to 6am on Monday) during the period.

In the first phase (January 17-31), one lane had been closed for repairs while another was kept open for vehicles.

In the second phase, too, vehicles will move in either direction in one lane till the national highways division of the PWD completes the repair.

But goods vehicles will not be allowed on the bridge till it is fully repaired.

Vehicles leaving the city can take the Howrah-Andul Road after the Vidyasagar Setu toll plaza and go past the Indian Botanic Garden, Andul Bazar and meet NH 6 at Alampur near the Dhulagarh Truck terminal.

Or vehicles can take the Howrah-Amta Road. After the Vidyasagar Setu toll plaza, vehicles will have to take the Drainage Canal Road, turn right to Shanpur More and then left to get on to the Howrah-Amta Road, which meets NH 6 in Salap.

Goods vehicles headed for Calcutta can take the Nivedita Setu or Benaras Road from Salap to reach the city by crossing the Howrah bridge.

Howrah police commissioner D.P. Singh said on weekends no vehicles would be allowed to ply on the bridge. "Not even ambulances," he said.

The repair work has remained suspended for nearly a month after the completion of the first phase because of Madhyamik and the Higher Secondary exams.

"Traffic congestion on the Kona Expressway, Howrah-Amta Road and Andul Road was a problem during the first phase. We shall use our experience this time to reduce traffic congestion on these roads," Singh said.

"Since 40 per cent of the repair work is over, vehicles are now moving faster on the bridge," a traffic officer said.

The Howrah police have decided to allow Calcutta-bound small goods vehicles to ply on the bridge after 11pm daily in view of the "traffic pressure" on Nivedita Setu and on Beneras Road.

The Howrah police traffic control room will monitor the movement of vehicles on NH6, Andul Road, Howrah-Amta Road and Benaras Road through CCTV cameras.

"At least 200 CCTV cameras have been installed along these roads," another officer said. "So, the roads will be under the scanner throughout the day. If one road is found to be congested, vehicles will be diverted along a road that is less congested."

About half of the 42 expansion joints on the bridge are slotted to be repaired or replaced.