The railway overbridge in Sodepur, a key link between BT Road and Madhyamgram in Kolkata’s northern suburbs, has been closed to traffic until 27 January for maintenance and repair, according to officials from the Public Works Department (PWD). The bridge is scheduled to reopen on 28 January. The overbridge serves as a vital corridor connecting BT Road on the west, Jessore Road on the east and the Kalyani Expressway, which intersects Sodepur Road. PWD officials said the repairs had been pending for some time and that intermittent maintenance work had failed to address structural issues effectively, necessitating a comprehensive overhaul. Senior officials from the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate said a detailed traffic diversion plan has been implemented. Vehicles travelling from BT Road towards Madhyamgram are being diverted northwards to Girja More, then routed east through a railway gate and onwards via Rashmoni More and Kanchkol to rejoin Sodepur Road. Vehicles from Jessore Road heading towards BT Road are being redirected along the same route in reverse. Authorities have deployed signage and briefed personnel to ensure smooth implementation of the diversion plan. The 33-year-old structure, built over railway tracks in Sodepur, requires extensive repairs after bearings and girders showed signs of wear, PWD engineers said. As part of the overhaul, all 56 bearings and 28 girders of the bridge will be replaced. Officials noted that vehicular load on the bridge has increased significantly over the past few years, requiring upgrades to its load-bearing capacity. Sodepur, home to several upscale residential and commercial complexes, depends heavily on the overbridge for daily traffic movement. Officials from the Panihati Municipality said the repair schedule was planned with holidays in mind to minimise disruption to commuters.