After 5 deaths in Feb, cops order ESI hosp gate switch, U-turn bar, convex mirrors

Kolkata: Switching the entry and exit gates of ESI Hospital in Joka, shutting the U-turn in front, putting up pedestrian barricades and installing convex mirrors, rumble strips and retro-reflective ‘go slow' boards are some of the measures that the Kolkata Traffic Police has taken on DH Road and James Long Sarani following the death of five in three accidents this month.As a first step, the Thakurpukur Traffic Guard, after talks with the ESI hospital administration, decided to switch the entry and exit gates of the hospital. Till Wednesday, the in-gate was located on the Thakurpukur side and the out-gate on the Joka side. "Beginning Thursday, vehicles will enter the hospital from the Joka side and exit on the Thakurpukur side," said an officer.
At the same time, the U-turn, which was allowed near the ESI gate on the Joka side, has been stopped for all vehicles, except ambulances, and a policeman posted there for busy hours. "Only ambulances with patients will be allowed to use this cross-over point. Visitors have to take the U-turn from either the DH Road-James Long Sarani crossing (towards Thakurpukur 3A bus stand) or from Joka WBTC tram depot. All pedestrian crossovers will be through barricades, and, as far as possible, drop gates will be used," said an officer.Police have also set up rumble strips near the hospital gates to slow down traffic and installed two convex mirrors at the two ends of the gates to help motorists keep an eye on the traffic on D H Road. In addition, retro-reflective tapes with signs, reading ‘Go Slow' and ‘Accident-Prone Zones' have been plastered along the stretch."The PWD repaired the road surface but there are still some design flaws on the James Long Sarani-DH Road cut. These flaws are being addressed," said an officer.Police have also written to Metro to ensure adequate illumination under the stations, the very spot, where the hospital is located.On the part of the Diamond Harbour Traffic Guard, extra police personnel are being deployed on D H Road and a safety awareness campaign is being launched. "The Behala Chowrasta crossing is seeing extra deployment of police, who are helping with pedestrian crossovers using drop gates. In addition, awareness campaigns at key crossings are being initiated on road safety, blind spots and special sessions for cyclists, auto drivers and goods vehicle drivers," said an officer.The Behala Chowrasta-Janakalyan stretch has deliberately been chosen for the campaign and extra policing owing to three reasons. First, multiple schools are located on the stretch, which is also used by thousands to cross from east Behala to west. "Second, it's a busy area in Behala with eight auto and three bus routes originating from there. Thirdly, we want to drive home the point that the traffic flow change at the crossing was not merely a stunt but part of a long-term plan," said a Lalbazar officer.A DH Road Traffic Guard officer said unless being stopped by police posted at the spot—almost seven are deployed at the spot every day between the new crossover point on Biren Roy Road (West)-DH Road crossing and Barisha High School—many pedestrians attempt jaywalking amid speeding vehicles. "Jaywalking is deeply ingrained in people. It will take time to change," said an officer.