Focus on barriers, lights after accidents near airport
Times of India | 9 June 2025
Kolkata: A series of serious road accidents, including two fatalities in the past month near Kolkata airport, has brought to attention the hazardous conditions of key stretches along Airport Road and Biswa Bangla Sarani. Poor illumination, lack of barriers on median dividers, and inadequate pedestrian walkways have been identified as primary causes behind these incidents.According to reports, at least three major accidents occurred in the last four weeks on roads near the airport. On May 7, Sanjay Roy (56) from Dum Dum was fatally run over by a car while crossing the road between airport gate 1 and gate 2.5; on May 21, a middle-aged man sustained severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the road near the AAI administrative building. He is still in hospital; on May 28, Swapan Dasgupta (64) from Chinar Park was knocked down and killed by a speeding car near Chinar Park crossing.Bidhannagar traffic cops undertook a survey to pinpoint vulnerable stretches that pose a threat to both pedestrians and motorists, and identified three zones — a 700-m stretch between airport gate 1 and gate 2.5, a 300-m stretch between gate 2.5 and gate 3, and a 1-km stretch of Biswa Bangla Sarani between Charnock Hospital and Noapara crossing. These accounted for most of the accidents in the past month.Bidhannagar cops said they took stopgap measures, like putting up guard rails along median dividers and reflective cones on Biswa Bangla Sarani, increasing deployment of traffic personnel and volunteers at high-risk zones, and installing signage advising pedestrians against jaywalking and urging caution while crossing roads. "A long-term infrastructure upgrade is essential," an officer said.Officers raised the matter with civic and transport authorities, including Metro, to seek permanent solutions. "Following the installation of pillars and viaduct, Metro cleared the barricaded zone and beautified the median dividers. But they haven't put up barricades to curb jaywalking, like along VIP Road. We have asked them to install the same," said another officer.