Happening today in Bengal: Vidyasagar Setu to be shut till 9pm, monthly film screening & discussion on SIR and citizenship

Commuters who rely on the Setu are urged to leave earlier than usual, use alternative bridges where possible and expect heavy congestion, especially around Howrah Bridge and the Strand Road corridors.

Kolkata Police has announced a full closure of Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge) on Sunday, November 16. The bridge will be shut to all vehicular traffic from 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. for essential repair and rehabilitation work, officials said. Engineers will replace stay and holding-down cables and bearing sets as part of the safety-driven programme.

Motorists are being warned to expect major delays across the city. West-bound traffic from AJC Bose Road (Zeerut Island), J&N Island and G.R. Road (Khidderpore) will be diverted along St. George’s Gate Road, Strand Road and Howrah Bridge, or via K.P. Road. East-bound traffic from Howrah — including vehicles from Road No. 1, the Howrah Bridge approach and the Y-Point near Ghusuri — will be routed via K.P. Road and Red Road to reach Howrah Bridge. Police said traffic management teams will be deployed on all diversion routes.

Commuters who rely on the Setu are urged to leave earlier than usual, use alternative bridges where possible and expect heavy congestion, especially around Howrah Bridge and the Strand Road corridors. Authorities stressed that the closure is unavoidable to ensure the bridge’s long-term safety.Eden Gardens Test and metro timings
The 16-hour shutdown coincides with Day 3 of the India v South Africa Test at Eden Gardens. Play on Sunday will start at 9:30 a.m. After an eventful Day 2, the contest could produce an early finish depending on on-field developments. Spectators heading to the stadium should factor in the Setu closure and allow extra time to reach the ground.

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Commuters planning to use the metro should note timings for the Howrah Maidan–Esplanade Green Line (Line 2) on Sunday: the first train is scheduled at 2:15 p.m. and the last at 9:40 p.m., Kolkata Metro sources said. Travellers are advised to confirm timings before leaving and to consider earlier metro services or other routes where available.

Kolkata Police Friendship Cup final: Sporting activity in the city adds to expected traffic in select areas. The Kolkata Police Friendship Cup 2025 final for women will be held at Bodyguard Lines Ground at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. The tournament, which began on November 14, will see legendary German footballer Lothar Matthäus meet the finalists. Commissioner of Police Manoj Verma will also attend. Organisers said traffic around the ground will be managed, but fans should plan for delays.

Monthly film screening on SIR and citizenship

A film screening and discussion organised by the People’s Film Collective will take place at Sujata Sadan, Hazra, from 6:00 p.m. The short film Noor Islam (20 minutes, 2019; Bengali, Sylheti; English subtitles) explores individual lives caught in the NRC process in Assam.

The film traces the struggles of an Indian citizen facing an environment of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear in the backdrop of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process in Assam. The documentary explores the state of mind of a person declared an ‘illegal immigrant’ and on the verge of losing their nationality.
A panel discussion will follow on “SIR & the Questions of Equal Citizenship and Universal Adult Suffrage,” with speakers including Sujato Bhadra: Human Rights Activist, Samata Biswas: Migration/Partition Scholar, Kirity Roy: Human Rights Activist.

Sweety Kumari

Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More

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