CM Mamata Banerjee to open Dakshineswar skywalk on November 5

DAKSHINESWAR: An elevated pathway, constructed to link the suburban railway station in

Dakshineswar

with the Kali temple that draws nearly 1.4 crore devotees annually, is set to be thrown open to pilgrims on Kali Puja eve on November 5.

Temple authorities hope the 340-metre-long futuristic skywalk will cater to the record footfall that the temple receives on Kali Puja day.

On Thursday, state urban development minister Firhad Hakim accompanied by Kusal Chowdhury, trustee and secretary of

Dakshineswar Kali Temple

,

Kamarhati

Municipality chairman Gopal Saha and KMDA and

Barrackpore

Commissionerate officers visited the Dakshineshwar project site to oversee the progress of work.

"Work is complete and chief minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the skywalk on November 5. The load testing safety certificate for the structure has already been received," he said. Sources said consultant RITES and KMDA, the project executing agency, had submitted a "fitness certificate" for the project to high court on October 9.

Sources said the minister wanted the walkway to be extended to the under-construction Dakshineswar metro station and had already had a word with metro authorities on its integration.