25-60 kmph: Police rejig speed curbs for cars, bikes
Times of India | 25 February 2025
12 Kolkata: The traffic cops have revised the maximum permissible speed limit on various city roads, including AJC Bose Road, Rashbehari Avenue and Judges Court Road, to reduce accidents. However, the traffic speed on EM Bypass and Diamond Harbour Road has not been changed.
"We have speed limits for all roads in Kolkata. But it needs constant revision. This depends on its growing importance, the vehicle count and accident history. We will keep reviewing the maximum speed from time to time. Speeds have been fixed between 25-50 km/hr," said DC (Traffic) Shrikant Jagannathrao Yeliwad.
The dynamic speed limits, different for cars and two-wheelers, are based on inputs from experts from IIT-Kanpur, led by professor Bhargab Maitra. Feedback from local traffic guards have also been incorporated.
On AJC Bose Road (between Belvedere Road crossing to Kidderpore/Hastings crossing), the maximum speed for all vehicles will be just 40 km/hr. On Ballygunge Circular Road, cars and bikes will be allowed a maximum speed of 40 km/hr. On Durgapur Bridge, it will rise to 50 km/hr, but the maximum speed on the busier and smaller Kalighat Road will be 25 km/hr.
The speed limit for cars on several major city roads is set at 60 km/hr. This applies to routes including the AJC Bose Road flyover, EM Bypass, Bypass-Park Circus connector, Bypass-Jadavpur connector, and the Maa flyover. For two-wheelers using these flyovers, the speed limit remains at 40 km/hr, a restriction that was established when the government removed time restrictions on their access to flyovers.
In Jan, the state had issued a comprehensive notification aimed at reducing road accidents and fatalities across the state. In line with the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety's directives and the state's commitment to reducing road fatalities by 50% by 2030, new speed limits were introduced for both urban and rural roads, especially in school, hospital, and market zones.
"We have decided to install additional speed cameras to enforce lane discipline and on many roads, including EM Bypass, AJC Bose Road, APC Road, and the Bypass-Prince Anwar Shah Road connector," the officer said. "The effect of the order can be felt in the next three months," said a police officer.