Shop shift, dynamic signalling for smooth Chingrighata traffic
Times of India | 9 August 2025
Kolkata: The Kolkata Police commissioner, Manoj Verma, said several long-term, as well as short-term, measures have been taken to ensure smooth traffic around Chingrighata. Lalbazar sources said this includes dynamic signal timings based on traffic volume, daily monitoring of the road surface, and shifting of multiple shops from the important crossing so that extra road space can be carved out.
"We finalised permanent long-term solutions for traffic by bringing about structural changes. Alternative routes have been identified, for which construction has begun," Verma said at Lalbazar on Friday. Verma said the target was to ensure that vehicles coming from Bidhannagar via Salt Lake Bypass do not face obstacles at the crossing. "A lot of planning is being done round the clock. The situation of the road surface was an issue, but it has improved. We are monitoring road data 24/7, and are working round the clock to complete some constructions that will enable us to open up a new Bypass-bound flank from Chingrighata," Verma said.
On a visit to the spot, TOI found construction of multiple shops, about 100 m inside Salt Lake Bypass from the crossing, was almost over. "It is final that the shops at the crossing, including a popular sweets shop, will be shifted soon. There are, however, still some issues between the owner of the building — where the shops are housed at present — and the administrative authorities that are being solved amicably," said a police source.
Cops will also ask for voluntary diversions at Ultadanga, Beleghata crossing, and Parama island. "Similarly, Beleghata Canal Road will be used more frequently for diversions. We will share comparable Google timings through Maniktala Road and APC Road to Park Circus as compared to the Maa flyover alignment, similar to comparisons between Maa flyover-Park Street and Maa flyover-AJC Bose Flyover-Hospital Road for those heading to the city centre," said an officer.
The cops said restoration work around Ambedkar Bridge was carried out in the past 48 hours, and, for the first time in weeks, blacktop could be laid. "We are now hoping for an improvement from Monday with all these measures kicking in," said a KP DCP.