Waterlogging, rally and road diversions bring traffic to a crawl in north, central Kolkata
Times of India | 12 August 2026
Kolkata: Traffic in north and central Kolkata remained disrupted on Tuesday as key roads, including Amherst Street, Sukeas Street and Keshab Chandra Sen Street, stayed under water. The closure of Amherst Street forced vehicles on to APC Road and CR Avenue, increasing congestion.
A rally from Rajabazar to Moulali on APC Road added to the pressure. As CR Avenue became the main route from north Kolkata to Esplanade, traffic police switched to manual signalling and gave priority to north-south movement, causing delays on MG Road and nearby crossings.
Commutes between Maniktala, Sealdah and Esplanade took 25 to 30 minutes longer than usual. Narrow lanes near Sealdah station and central business areas also choked as traffic was diverted from flooded roads. Traffic officers said traffic returned to normal after stormwater receded.
The rally was organised by Jamiat-e-Ulama under the leadership of Siddikulla Choudhury. Protesters raised concerns over the alleged deletion of minority voters’ names during the SIR process, the online census process, and the use of microphones in mosques within court-approved noise limits.