Cops shift autos, mark bus boarding points to check Jessore Rd accidents
Times of India | 22 March 2025
123 Kolkata: Following back-to-back accidents on Jessore Road, Bidhannagar cops have implemented a series of changes in traffic management. These include shifting autos and totos from the main flank to service road, extending bus stands from their current locations, using traffic cones to separate lanes and earmark bus boarding zones and deploying more policemen throughout the day.
"It was a much-needed change that we had to implement to rein in the traffic mess around this area. It's a heavy traffic zone, and with the Metro construction work on alongside, it was difficult to manage traffic in the area. We have made a few changes on an experimental basis and will make some more changes in the future," said a senior officer of Bidhannagar City Police.
Between Feb 16 and March 18, six people died on Jessore Road between Belgharia Expressway crossing and Michaelnagar in three separate accidents. This forced the police, PWD and the local civic body to hold multiple meetings and implement the changes.
While a family of three was run over by a truck on Feb 16, two passengers who got off a bus were killed on March 16 after a truck hit the bus, causing the two to come under the bus wheel. On March 18, a school student riding pillion on a bike died after the bike handle got entangled in an auto.
"Next week, we are going to hold another set of meetings and will see if the buses can also be moved onto the service road for picking up and dropping passengers. We are trying to ensure buses don't pick up and drop passengers on the main flank. That can reduce chances of accidents manifold," said the officer.