12 Kolkata: Prodded by repeated complaints of traffic snarls on the road to the airport, Bidhannagar City Police have made multiple changes in the traffic management system on VIP Road from this week. The changes have reduced congestion at multiple points, motorists said.
The crossover point at Dakshindari has been shifted 70 m towards Lake Town, allowing vehicles coming down the Bypass-Lake Town flyover, as well as those coming from Ultadanga, to move ahead. This has helped significantly reduce snarls up to Ultadanga crossing. A pedestrian crossover point at Kaikhali crossing has also been shifted 10 m towards Haldirams, and a pedestrian channel has been created.
At Baguiati crossing, a bus bay has been constructed using guard rails, leaving two lanes open for smaller vehicles. Blinker lights have replaced traffic signal lights on multiple stretches to allow motorists to drive with caution. All pedestrian crossover points between Golaghata and Tegharia (6 km) have been sealed, and pedestrians have been told to use either foot over bridges or subways.
"The airport authorities were vocal about multiple problems pertaining to the road to the airport, which included traffic snarls, waterlogging, and portions of the road that had disintegrated. We noted all the problem points and are working on permanent solutions for them. The changes in the traffic management system are already yielding results," said an officer.
The officer said the PWD has started thorough repair of multiple damaged portions of VIP Road, and proposals have been sent for pedestrian underpasses at existing crossover points. "By constructing underpasses on the stretch between Golaghata and Tegharia, we have been able to significantly reduce traffic congestion and accidents. Once underpasses come up at crossings like Narayantala, Haldirams, Kaikhali and airport gate no 1, the entire VIP Road will see faster vehicular movement," the official said.
The official said they are also in the process of installing high-mast lights on both ends of Keshtopur flyover, and stricter prosecutions on illegal parking along VIP Road have been initiated, which can further increase the average speed on the corridor.
TOI on Tuesday reported about a slew of measures being undertaken before the next monsoon for a permanent solution to prevent waterlogging on the road to the airport. This will include installation of drainage water pumps, cleaning and construction of new drains, raising of road surface levels, and the removal of encroachments. "In almost all our recent customer service surveys, passengers complained about the road to the airport, and hence we have asked all stakeholders to take adequate measures to address the situation. It's good to see the authorities are finally responding with timely solutions," said a senior official of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.