Speed bumps and more signals: Cops rejig traffic plan for 26 key crossings

Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police brass has identified 26 road stretches and crossings with highest pedestrian volume in a bid to increase average speed of vehicles passing through these spots without compromising pedestrian safety. These spots are on Behala Chowrasta, DL Khan Road and the crossings at Rashbehari, Gariahat, Ruby and Chingrighata. Changes in this regard have already been initiated at Exide crossing, Behala Chowrasta and Chingrighata. The cops have also asked for additional traffic signals, setting up of small bumps, and extra illumination on roads like Cossipore Road, Bagbazar Street, Harlal Maitra Road, Biren Roy Road West and Becharam Chatterjee Street. Most of these crossings are located in north, central and added areas of Kolkata.
Police said 13 ACPs, who are in charge of these stretches, were asked to share their plans to attain the objectives set by Lalbazar. "These solutions will be area specific. Some of the measures include switching from automatic to manual mode of traffic signals, setting up of pedestrian barriers and removing bus stands from near crossings. Subways can be set up in the long run," said a senior cop at Lalbazar.The audit by ACPs will also include the infrastructure available at the spot. For example, sources claimed that the poor state of pavements was apparently a major reason behind pedestrians jaywalking on the high-speed EM Bypass corridor or on APC Road, which witnessed major accidents in the recent past. The cops also feel that proper footpaths and pedestrian barriers will help solve illegal parking on footpaths.Cops chose several intersections in the city to make them more pedestrian friendly. Based on the combined "reactive and proactive assessments" by police and researchers appointed by Lalbazar, there is evidence that a high pedestrian-vehicular volume ratio, absence of traffic signals, inaccessibility of the pedestrian crosswalk, absence of police personnel, high approaching speed, commercial areas, inadequate sight distance, presence of slum populations, and high population density near the intersection increase the risk of pedestrian crashes.