Evening traffic hit as docs squat on Metro channel
Times of India | 5 October 2024
Kolkata: Traffic in central Kolkata was hit on Friday evening after junior doctors sat on the Metro channel in Esplanade, opposite Metro Cinema, for over two hours to register their protests and declare their future course of action.
Traffic had to be diverted to keep vehicles moving during the evening post-office rush hour. The worst-affected were shoppers heading to New Market, especially from south Kolkata.
According to police, the Park Street flyover was shut for vehicular traffic from 6 pm after the rally crossed Cathedral Road.The stretch from Park Street crossing to K C Das crossing was also shut after the doctors occupied the western flank of JL Nehru Road opposite Metro Cinema. Buses and smaller vehicles were diverted via Mayo Road. Those headed north were diverted via Lalbazar. Vehicles moving from C R Avenue towards Park Street had to slow down as the crowd swelled at the spot. Rains also added to the traffic chaos.
Sanat Banerjee, who came from Behala, said he was asked to get off at Park Street by the bus conductor amidst pouring rain. “I had to scamper to find a shade. While I support the protest, I hope protesting doctors announce their programmes in advance so that we can be prepared. Everyone’s right to movement has to be respected,” said Banerjee.
Barnali Das from Tollygunge said she was not aware of any rally and hence decided to come shopping with her husband after he attended office. “The Esplanade Metro station is already crowded. If I had known beforehand, I would have convinced my husband to go to Gariahat instead,” said Das.
Police said that besides J L Nehru Road, several arterial roads were also affected. At least four important roads in central and south Kolkata — Harish Mukherjee Road, Cathedral Road, B B Ganguly Street and Bentinck Street — were hit too, either due to the rally crossing them or buses getting diverted on them.
“My bus from Santragachhi took an additional 15-20 minutes to reach Kolkata Station,” said Dhritiman Banerjee, a bank employee from rural Howrah. Police also diverted smaller vehicles to Howrah through MG Road from Central Avenue. “I always support doctors’ protest. But they need to take common people into confidence so that we are aware of this beforehand,” said Anasuya Mitra, a teacher who was travelling to Milk Colony from Kidderpore.