1234 Kolkata: To tackle the rising traffic volumes, increasing office spaces, and a spate of recent accidents, Bidhannagar city police is bringing in a major traffic overhaul on Biswa Bangla Sarani in New Town. The New Town Traffic Guard is being split into two new units — Techno City and Eco Park to streamline management and improve road safety.
"The New Town traffic guard was covering a huge area and traffic management was becoming an issue. Hence the need for restructuring," said Mukesh Kumar, the Bidhannagar City Police Commissioner, while inaugurating the Eco Park sub traffic guard on Wednesday. Kumar added that over the next few weeks, the Techno City sub traffic guard will also be inaugurated.
"The Eco Park sub traffic guard will mostly cover the Eco Park police station area. Techno City sub traffic guard will follow the same format and will cover the Techno City police station area," another officer said. Officers said the restructuring will bring in additional deployment and smoother management, which will be headed by a sub-inspector on independent charge.
Residents and daily commuters have welcomed the change. "Traffic in New Town during peak hours is a nightmare. Sometimes it takes me more than half an hour to get from Noapara crossing to Eco Park," said Puja Sengupta, a techie who commutes daily to her office at New Town. "If the new sub traffic guards help manage congestion more efficiently, it's a much-needed step."
At least three new underpasses are being planned along Biswa Bangla Sarani in New Town to ease traffic congestion and boost pedestrian safety. Four key intersections have been proposed for underpasses: Westin intersection, Shrachi More (Seventh Intersection), Noapara intersection (between Chinar Park and City Centre II), and Chinar Park intersection. Additionally, a combined vehicular underpass and pedestrian subway is proposed in front of Tata Medical Center, along with a dedicated pedestrian subway near St Xavier's University on Street No. 3333.
On the same day, Kumar inaugurated the new Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Zone II office on VIP Road, at the busy Baguiati crossing next to the Baguiati Traffic Guard. Kumar also announced further plans to streamline traffic in nearby areas. "The Bidhannagar traffic guard, which oversees the entire Salt Lake region covering three police stations, will also be split. A new sub traffic guard will be formed to manage the Bidhannagar South police station jurisdiction," he added.