Kolkata: Kolkata Traffic Police will hit the roads from Oct 6, a Sunday, for puja crowd management, though traffic restrictions will kick in from Oct 7, a Monday. Cops said most major pandals would be inaugurated by Dwitiya and Tritiya — the weekend — but traffic restrictions would be necessary between Monday and Wednesday (Oct 7 -9), when most offices would stay open and early pandal-hoppers would start going out.
The city has traditionally witnessed slow traffic between Dwitiya and Sasthi, a period when office-commuters have to jostle for road space with pandal-hoppers and last-minute shoppers. Sasthi being not before Friday this year, the challenge would be greater, said police. “We have identified pressure points at crossings, like Gariahat, Hatibagan, New Market, Shyambazar and Anwar Shah Road. In addition to the curbs, we may divert vehicles, if needed,” said a Lalbazar traffic control room officer. About 1,000 traffic cops will be deployed on roads from 4 pm on Oct 7 and around 3,000 from the next day. The administration has urged puja committees for a Tritiya or Chaturthi inauguration to space out the revelry time over next eight days till Dashami and to avoid crushing rush. “Expect more people on roads and prepare accordingly. People are no longer willing to sit at home,” was the message from the police top brass. Stock-taking meetings are planned between Dwitiya and Chaturthi.
A total of 172 roads, partially or entirely, will be shut to traffic from 4 pm to 4 am and on certain days, the blocks will be lifted after midnight. According to a notice on Wednesday, vehicles will not be allowed on those stretches between 3 pm and 4 am—till midnight initially—from Oct 7 to 13. No car will be allowed to park on 135 roads from 3 pm to 4 am. No auto will be allowed on major roads after 3 pm.