Big time Durga puja committees of Behala area, directly connected with the rest of the city through the Majerhat bridge that collapsed early this week, are worried over the footfall in their pandals during the puja days.
A spokesman of the 'Forum for Durgotsav', a platform of 350 Durga puja committees of the city, told PTI that they hoped the Durga Puja turn out in Behala would remain the same like last year. There are over 30 Puja committees in Behala who are our members. And we can only hope that things will be sorted out in a month's time.
"This can be done by either constructing two temporary Bailey bridges along the two flanks of the Majerhat bridge or making traffic diversion to other routes," the 'Forum for Durgotsav' president Partha Ghosh said.
The Forum is yet to formally approach the government on the issue, he said adding "but our members are in touch."
He said "we are concerned that many visitors from north and central parts of the metropolis will not be able to come after the bridge collapse. We are looking for a solution."
A member of 'Barisha Yubak Brinda' said, "If there is less crowd from other parts of the city and elsewhere, our preparations will have little use. We, the smaller pujas, mostly depend on the participation of revellers to make it a success and lesser footfall means a cut in sponsorship next year."
A puja committee member of 'Behala Notun Dal' said while this year's sponsorship had come to them long ago and there was not much to worry on financial side, they also hoped the crowd would not dwindle "as without revellers the celebrations will lose its lustre."