Kolkata cops face five-point traffic hurdle this Durga Puja

KOLKATA: For a city that sees a massive influx of visitors during Durga Puja, it has to thank the police force that keeps the traffic moving with meticulous planning and execution. The effort — that involves around 30,000 policemen, home guards and civic volunteers — has mostly been glitch-free over the years. But there exist a few stretches that remain a worry for Lalbazar.The fact that movement on certain bridges remains suspended has only added to the worry. Around 7,000 policemen were on the street on Wednesday but on next two days — Panchami and Sasthi — around 20,000 would patrol the city, especially at these challenge zones, said DC (Traffic) Santosh Pandey. TOI takes a look at how things played out on theses stretches on Chaturthi

Tallah emerges as latest problem point
This year’s newest challenge has no solution as of now. While extra men deployed near the Hatibagan area will help in smoother flow of traffic from Ultadanga, there is little to keep the jams on RG Kar Road, the Seven Tanks area and Dum Dum Road at bay. The worst-hit is the Belgachhia bridge even as the Cossipore bridge is taking extra load. Police said there is a possibility to let autos ply in the area, contrary to other parts of the city. A final decision is yet to be taken. On Wednesday, a trip from Kalindi to Sealdah took over 2.5 hours.

“The transport department has worked out possible routes for buses. There are three options for bigger vehicles — Raja Manindra Road and Chitpur Lock gate route, Raja Indra Biswas Road via Shyambazar and the road beside Tallah police station. Snarls at Sinthi More and Chiria More are refusing to abate.

So far so good at Alipore-Chetla zone
The biggest challenge in the south would be to break the Behala gridlock along the Alipore Road-Chetla Central Road-Durgapur Bridge stretch. The stretch as witnessed major jams ever since the Chetla Lock Gate idge was shut for vehicular movement.

A combination of efforts — both from police and MDA — made travelling on this stretch on Chaturthi a t easier. While the cops could divert a number of vehicles rough Chetla Lock Gate (even though Chetla Agrani’s ja has led to shutting down of Rakhal Das Auddy oad), the new Izatullah Bridge has taken the pressure f Durgapur Bridge and New Alipore crossing. However, r those Behala residents wishing to return home in the vening, taking the Durgapur Bridge turned out to be me-consuming. With both Panchami and Sasthi being orking days, the cops feel the problem might persist.

Lake Town Bailey bridge streamlines traffic flow
Footfall in the area has jumped manifold and so has the traffic volume on both the flanks of VIP Road. Bidhannagar police believes that the opening of Lake Town Bailey bridge will help disperse Salt Lake-bound traffic from Lake Town. Police have made cutout in between Dum Dum Park and Bangur for Salt Lake-bound ehicles from Lake Town to take a right turn and get into the Ultadangaund flank of VIP Road to take the Lake Town Bailey bridge.
The ban of buses on Tallah bridge is resulting in heavy traffic arls on Dum Dum Road, Belgachhia Road and RG Kar Road and the pact could be felt on VIP Road and Lake Town Road that connects ake Town intersection with Kalindi More on Jessore Road.
Cops expect some traffic pressure on First Avenue and First Cross oad in Salt Lake from Friday onwards as Salt Lake-bound vehicles ill enter from Ultadanga and EM Bypass.
Task cut out for cops in & around Rashbehari
The Rashbehari Connector, along with RB Avenue, host some of the biggest pujas — Kasba Bosepukur, Ekdalia ergreen, Singhi Park, Deshapriya Park, ridhara, 66 Pally and Badamtala Ashar ngha. “Kalighat Metro station has emerged the hub of transit with the crowd moving wards either Chetla or Gariahat. The riahat crossing is the link towards the akuria-Jodhpur Park pujas. Keeping this retch moving is important,” said an officer. n Wednesday, this stretch was one of the orst-hit with massive jams from Lake Mall Ballygunge station. However, the situation proved as the cops took up their positions afternoon. Once the Deshapriya Park puja ened in the evening, routing the crowd came easier. “In the morning, with a huge unk of visitors trying to enter Tridhara om RB Avenue, there were issues about owd circulation,” said a traffic cop.
Narrow road poses challenge
Home to some of the biggest pujas, like Naktala Udayan Sangha and Garia Nabadurga, this stretch has come der watch following the surge in traffic ound Tollygunge Metro station.
“The road is narrow and such a huge umber of vehicles at one go is disrupting rmal traffic. The barricades, too, are rinking the road space. While the parking sue remains, the area has a number of aller crossings that see a lot of cross ovement during Pujas. With the Metro nning packed, many are taking the road.he Metro crowd is adding to the traffic,” said Garia traffic guard officer.