Kolkata: The traffic cops will take the help of school students and local NGOs to try and sensitize motorists about the ill-effects of honking under overhead Metro stations where the sound gets amplified, causing severe distress to the kids and the elderly.
The Diamond Harbour Traffic Guard and the Thakurpukur Traffic Guard will be the first to launch the campaign.
Since students of at least four schools located next to two Metro stations — Behala Chowrasta and Thakurpukur Bazar — are directly affected every day, cops plan to take the help of these students to send across a strong message.
“We want the students to lead the campaign at these spots. While special drives on our part will begin on Saturday, the schools are being approached for a special no-honking campaign around Kali Puja. We plan to club the green firecracker campaign with it,” said an officer.
Multiple surveys on DH Road have revealed that sound gets amplified under these newly constructed overhead Metro stations. Similar findings were also shared from Metro stations on EM Bypass. The surveys were initiated after cops received multiple complaints of noise pollution from pedestrians, students and their parents and a particular college administration.
“We found that the sound got trapped within the walls of the new construction, with the waves finding lesser scope to escape given the two flanks are covered by the station and the adjoining space has thick construction. This is a major issue at Behala Chowrasta and Thakurpukur Bazar. There are schools and colleges in these areas and are strictly a no-honking zone,” said a senior officer from Behala division. The same holds true for at least two Bypass stations and the Joka station that fall in hospital zones.
All 25 traffic guards along with the anti-pollution cell of Kolkata Traffic Police have already decided to carry out checks at five important crossings each day where honking at the signal will be dealt with strictly. According to cops, cases will be compounded (Rs 500 for the first offence and compounded to Rs 1500 for subsequent offences) if a motorist honks even when the signal is red or just turned green.