kolkata from joka to bbd bag in 15 minutes sounds like a dream but chief minister buddhadeb bhattacharjee has to cross a few hurdles before the dream comes true technology is no problem for the proposed light rail transit lrt nor is finance but to make out space for the lrt along the busy diamond harbour road is a problem to reckon with shortlisted bidders have raised this point during their presentation to the government one doesnt need to be a rocket scientist to get a feel of what the problem is all about just mind the diamond harbour road stretch from behala to esplanade there are at least three flyovers and bridges that one has to cross over before reaching esplanade the first is the upcoming flyover from ajanata cinema to alipore mint then the majherhat bridge and the third is the zeerut bridge if one takes the alipore route the point is where to build the tshaped elevated tracks on which the monorail will run for the bridges are old and upcoming flyover is not being built with a capacity to carry the lrt load finding out extra space on this busy route and acquire it is another headache for transport officials different stretches of the road are maintained by different authorities kolkata port trust eastern railways not to speak of the pwd seldom has any authority parted with its land and allowed the state to acquire that the bidders have suggested alternatives to the 15km route from joka to esplanade to minimise complications taking the james long sarani would be much easier some of them suggested but this is not all one of the bidders has also suggested amends to the elevated track system they proposed to adopt the dualmode rolling stock technology that will enable the lrt to go by rail and road as well the government panel comprising transport secretary sumantra chowdhury chief traffic and transport planning manager bk sadhu managing director of the transport infrastructure development corporation tidc dhiman mukherjee and ctc managing director s pal has not made up its mind as yet they attended the presentations for the last two days and asked the shortlisted bidders to come up with detailed plans about costs and nature of the project some have proposed a fullfledged buildoperat e transfer project that they will transfer to the government after the concession period is over while a few look upon the government for funds and land there are firms who have also asked for exclusive rights to set up malls at the two ends to earn revenue we will consider these proposals later but we have made it loud and clear to all of them that the fare should be well within the reach of the commuters said a transport official the panel has asked the bidders to reply to its queries regarding nature of the project finances and the fare structure by wednesday after this the government is likely to go for a detailed