With Kolkata gearing up for the celebration of Chhath Puja on October 27 and 28, the police have rolled out an elaborate traffic plan to ensure smooth movement and public safety.

The festival, deeply rooted in the traditions of Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, draws thousands of devotees from the sizeable Bihari community in Kolkata, who gather along riverbanks, ponds, and local water bodies to offer prayers to the Sun God.

The traffic notification, issued by Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Verma, will be effective from noon to 10 pm Monday and again from 3 am to 10 am Tuesday. During these hours, the city is expected to witness heavy movement of devotees heading towards popular ghats such as Bagbazar, Nimtala, Babughat, Dai Ghat, and Rani Rashmoni Ghat, as well as local water bodies across south and east Kolkata.

Authorities have urged commuters to avoid major roads leading to these ghats and residential clusters where these festivities are celebrated. These include Red Road, Strand Road, Nimtala Ghat Street, Beadon Street, Sovabazar Street, Bidhan Sarani, Rani Rashmoni Avenue, Government Place East and West, Ahiritola Street, and Strand Bank Road. Vehicles will not be allowed to halt, load, or unload passengers or goods in these areas.

In South Kolkata, restrictions will remain in force around Jheel Road, Banamali Naskar Road, Mukundapur Road, Santoshpur Avenue, Garia More, and Patuli Connector, where several temporary ghats and ponds are expected to draw large crowds. Similar curbs will apply along VIP Nagar Road, Garden Reach Road, Motilal Gupta Road, and adjoining stretches.

Traffic movement will also be restricted or diverted along Red Road, Mayo Road, Esplanade Row, Government Place West, Kingsway, and Auckland Road. In addition, several roads will operate as one-way routes notably Sovabazar Street (west to east), Nimtala Ghat Street, (east to west) Beadon Street (east to west), and Strand Road North (south to north) between Nimtala Ghat Street and K K Tagore Street to regulate the flow of vehicles and pedestrians.

Parking for Chhath Puja vehicles will be allowed only on designated stretches such as Maharshi Debendra Road (between Nimtala Ghat and Sovabazar Street), Strand Road North, and the Maidan parking lot. Vehicles not related to the festival will be barred from entering the ghat areas.

“Chhath puja vehicles will not be allowed through the following thoroughfares, including Park Street, Shakespeare Sarani, Ballygunge Circular Road, New Park Street, AJC Bose Fly Over, Park Circus Connector, MAA Fly Over, Loudon Street, Rowdon Street and E. M. Bypass (Except Chingrighata to Metropolitan),” read the traffic advisory.

The four-day festival, also known as Surya Shashthi, will begin on Saturday (October 25) with Nahay Khay, when devotees take a holy dip and prepare traditional meals. The following day marks Kharna, a strict fast without water that ends after sunset with offerings to the Sun God. The main rituals, Sandhya Arghya (evening offering) and Usha Arghya (morning offering), will take place on October 27 and 28, respectively. The rituals symbolise gratitude, purity, and renewal as devotees offer prayers to the setting and rising sun.

Kolkata Municipal Corporation will inaugurate Chhath Puja at 4 pm Monday at Takta Ghat and Doi Ghat. The district venues of Chhath Puja will be virtually connected to Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the programme.

In view of the festival rush, Eastern Railway has announced special train services to handle the surge in passenger traffic to Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. To clear the extra rush, one unreserved special train between Sealdah and Ballia will run during the festive weekend.