Kolkata: Severe congestion on major thoroughfares has prompted Kolkata Police to start major Durga Puja traffic deployment from Dwitiya.Extra division forces, local police, NCC cadets, and civil defence personnel will be used to manage traffic and crowds. Police said the period between Mahalaya and Sasthi will be especially difficult because offices and schools will remain open, shoppers will increase, and pandal barricading will begin.Traffic plans will change depending on the situation on the ground. Local police stations have been asked to help from Tuesday, and officers may switch from automatic signals to manual traffic control wherever and whenever needed.Unlike earlier years, when full deployment was mainly during evenings, police will keep round-the-clock watch from Mahalaya to Panchami. Puja organisers have been asked to share inauguration timings in advance and provide volunteers, especially in the morning.At Kumartuli, entry into idol-making studios will be controlled based on crowd levels. Vehicles collecting idols must follow fixed entry and exit routes through Rabindra Sarani, Jatindra Mohan Avenue, Raja Naba Krishna Street, Aurobinda Sarani, Madan Mohan Tala, Bagbazar Street, and Strand Bank Road.The decision comes after growing public complaints about traffic jams, road blockages, illegal parking, and inconvenience to commuters and senior citizens. Opposition leaders also criticised the traffic situation, saying Kolkata’s road management has worsened ahead of Puja.Facing severe gridlock across major arterial corridors in the city, Kolkata Police have decided to advance peak Durga Puja traffic deployments to as early as Dwitiya.The department plans to mobilise additional division forces, local police personnel, and NCC cadets to manage the pre-festival rush across the city.Traffic officials admitted that the upcoming week between Mahalaya and Sasthi poses a formidable challenge. Most offices and educational institutions will remain fully operational through Friday alongside an influx of last-minute festival shoppers. The situation is set to worsen as barricading around pandals and busy intersections begins on Mahalaya, ahead of major inaugurations scheduled between Tritiya and Chaturthi.Addressing the crisis, top officers at Lalbazar stated that traffic movement plans will remain dynamic. A senior officer emphasised that local police stations have been instructed to assist from Tuesday: “We are also asking some senior officers to hit the roads. Diversions will be done based on ground condition and OCs can switch to manual signaling from automated signaling.”Unlike previous years when full-scale deployments focused primarily on evening hours, police will maintain round-the-clock vigil between Mahalaya and Panchami. “We usually manage Tritiya with help from local police. However, this time round, we plan to use additional forces of each division from Dwitiya,” a police source noted.Addressing the crisis, top officers at Lalbazar stated that traffic movement plans will remain dynamic. A senior officer emphasized that local police stations have been instructed to assist from Tuesday: “We are also asking some senior officers to hit the roads. Diversions will be done based on ground condition and OCs can switch to manual signaling from automated signaling.”Unlike previous years when full-scale deployments focused primarily on evening hours, police will maintain round-the-clock vigil between Mahalaya and Panchami. “We usually manage Tritiya with help from local police. However, this time round, we plan to use additional forces of each division from Dwitiya,” a police source noted.Organizers have been asked to share inauguration schedules in advance and deploy volunteers during morning hours. “It will be a 10-day affair and resources have to be planned and deployed. The NCC cadets and civil defence will also play a crucial part,” an official added.To manage crowds at Kumartuli, entry into idol-making studios will be regulated based on ground conditions. Vehicles heading to pick up idols must enter via Rabindra Sarani through Jatindra Mohan Avenue, Raja Naba Krishna Street, and Aurobinda Sarani, exiting through Madan Mohan Tala, Baghbazar Street, and Strand Bank Road.The revised traffic strategy comes amid rising public frustration over citywide congestion. Even on Thursday, central Kolkata experienced heavy tailbacks following the closure of Red Road, with traffic crawling along Dufferin Road, Mayo Road, and Outram Road, exacerbated by illegal double-lane parking near the Park Street Flyover on JL Nehru Road.“Please allot more traffic police on the roads of Kolkata. Only signals cannot manage so heavy pre-Puja traffic. Most of the roads have heavy traffic jams. Please do the needful,” wrote Sudorshana Moitra, a regular commuter, on the Kolkata Traffic police FB page.“We appreciate your notifications, but would appreciate more if minimum inconvenience is caused to the senior citizens. The senior citizens have been facing, well in advance of Pujas, the inconvenience of road and footpath blockage. We all need to celebrate this once a year celebration, but all within the guidelines,” said Surinder Kapoor on FB.“Before Durga puja all offices are open, schools are open and people are coming from outside for shopping. Strict traffic management is required or common people will suffer only,” wrote another citizen, Sahev Chatterjee.Even the opposition did not mince words while criticizing the traffic situation in the city.“For the past few days severe traffic congestion has been developing across Kolkata. The City of Joy has turned into a ‘City of Jam”…..Jams are breaking out anytime on any road. Whether it is ordinary passengers traveling by public or private buses, or someone traveling in their personal car, common people are facing tremendous harassment. Look at the Park Street flyover, the Maa flyover, or the other critical connecting roads around. Has the entire traffic system broken down? Doesn’t the Kolkata Police have time, or is manning not being done properly?” claimed Beliaghata MLA Kunal Ghosh, a Mamata Banerjee loyalist.
