Sr cops visit ESI Hosp zone with road safety message
Times of India | 20 February 2026
Kolkata: Senior traffic police officers on Thursday paid a visit to the accident-prone zone on DH Road near ESI Hospital in Joka and then, to the Behala Chowrasta crossing and had a talk with pedestrians, hawkers, relatives of ESI Hospital patients, auto drivers, rickshaw-pullers, sensitising them about road safety.
The interactions were part of the Kolkata Traffic Police's effort to curb accidents, especially on this stretch near ESI Hospital, where five persons were killed in three accidents in 10 days. Cops on Wednesday launched a number of measures, including the ESI Hospital gate-switch, stopping a U-turn, installing rumble strips and convex mirrors.
Joint CP (traffic & crime) Rupesh Kumar held the discussions for around 30 minutes at each spot. He sought to know from pedestrians the problems they faced at the crossing and if they had easy access to zebra crossings or pedestrian channels. While speaking with people near ESI Hospital, he stressed the need for being extra careful at hospital crossings, where time was often crucial. He directed hawkers not to block the road, allowing patients' relatives and ambulances speedy and hazard-free access to the hospital. Kumar urged auto drivers not to drop or pick up passengers from the middle of the road or at places that blocked the hospital gates. He asked pedestrians to cross the road at the zebra crossing and wait behind the boom barrier.
Auto drivers seemed to understand police's appeal. "At times, we do park in such a manner that allows bikes to enter from the left. This can be a potential reason behind accidents. I will try to be careful," said Ashok Kumdu, an auto operator on the Pailan-Thakurpukur route.
At his next stop at Behala Chowrasta, Kumar spoke to pedestrians and auto drivers. Eight auto routes start from there. "This place has the maximum volume of pedestrian crossover on D H Road. We urged them to wait for the signal to turn red before crossing the road and not to run across without checking for vehicles," said an officer.