Build road through green verge to ease congestion near airport, suggest police

Kolkata: In a fresh push to ease chronic congestion around the city airport, the Bidhannagar City Police Commissionerate has proposed a key road rejig, seeking dismantling of a green verge to create a dedicated entry lane for vehicles approaching from the Nagerbazar end of Jessore Road. Officers said the proposed single-lane road will allow vehicles to directly access the airport without taking the current convoluted turn through a narrow stretch towards gate 2.5 — a bottleneck that frequently witnesses snarls during peak hours.The proposal was sent to PWD, with a joint inspection planned over the weekend. Bidhannagar commissioner Murli Dhar visited the site on Monday and proposed the alignment for the new stretch, officials said.
According to cops, the new road became necessary in view of traffic diversions expected during construction of the New Garia-Airport metro corridor. An existing U-turn cut on VIP Road at Kaikhali crossing — used by Ultadanga-bound cars to loop back towards the airport flank — will be closed. "A new U-turn will come up around 50 m behind the current one. However, vehicles taking that new U-turn will not be able to access the airport via the flyover," an officer said. "Motorists intending to enter the airport will have to take a right turn towards the airport road. The proposed single-lane road carved out after removing the green verge will allow them seamless entry," he added. Traffic cops said the arrangement will prevent vehicles from making sudden lane changes or illegal manoeuvres near the flyover approach. Airport authorities welcomed the move, describing it as a constructive intervention aimed at decongesting one of the city's busiest traffic corridors. "Any initiative that improves traffic outside the airport is beneficial," an official said.Motorists, too, expressed relief at the planned intervention. "I travel to the airport at least twice a week. The current entry from the Nagerbazar side is confusing and narrow. A direct access will save time and reduce last-minute panic," said Dum Dum resident Arindam Ghosh.