Partial block at Behala Chowrasta to facilitate weekend sewer work
Times of India | 9 April 2024
Kolkata: Traffic cops have given a conditional go-ahead to a contractor working on behalf of KMC to dig up a portion of the Behala Chowrasta crossing to construct two manholes. The work can be carried out post 11pm from Friday but the stretch needs to be ready for traffic movement by 5am on Monday.
According to the traffic plan, all vehicles either entering Biren Roy Road from DH Road or exiting Biren Roy Road towards DH Road have to compulsorily use a single lane (the flank used for entering Biren Roy Road).Those moving on DH Road and moving towards Taratala will get just a single flank to cross the crossing.
“Similarly, with the vehicles headed towards Biren Roy Road held up on the Joka-bound flank to allow single lane movement on the opposite flank, we expect long queues even on the Joka-bound flank, especially in the evening,” said an officer.
“Given the traffic pressure on this crossing, we expect chaos. We would advise everyone to avoid this stretch as much as possible or use James Long Sarani as an alternative,” said an officer from the DH Road Traffic Guard. “We are hoping to rope in officers from other guards to try and control the traffic situation at this spot,” said the officer.
Police sources said the block was necessary as KMC is constructing new sewerage lines and manholes to stop waterlogging inside the Behala Industrial Estate and the adjoining areas.
Such has been the complaints on delays that cops brought in multiple changes in commuter movement in the area from Monday evening. “We have created a new small road channel on the extreme left to accommodate autos and two-wheelers,” said an officer. Cops are also allowing autos to use the bylanes of Janakalyan. In addition, the entire traffic system in the area is now running on auto mode, stated police sources.
To add to the pain, at least four auto routes have started avoiding Chowrasta to skirt the jam. “Most of them are claiming to ply only up to Bakultala on Biren Roy Road or to Sakherbazar on DH Road. They are not ready to go up to Chowrasta even if we pay extra,” said Sovan Tarafdar, a resident of Sarsuna.