Kolkata: Torrential overnight rain brought airport-bound traffic on VIP Road and the Chinar Park stretch to a crawl on Thursday, with waterlogging at the airport’s arrival terminal approach and several parts of the arterial road compounding the disruption.A newly created median cut near Haldirams Crossing, however, allowed vehicles to turn directly towards Chinar Park, helping bypass the flooded service lane.The worst congestion was reported around the Haldirams Crossing, where accumulated water on the VIP Road service road made the usual traffic movement difficult. The resulting snarls stretched towards Chinar Park and spilled onto adjoining routes leading to Sector V, leaving motorists stranded for long periods.“I have never seen the situation this bad as it has been this year after every spell of rain,” said Sandip Karmakar, a commuter.The new median cut, introduced by Bidhannagar Police on Thursday, provided an alternative for vehicles heading towards Chinar Park. Instead of taking a U-turn near Haldirams Crossing and entering the flooded service lane, vehicles along the airport bound flank could use the cut to make a direct right turn towards Chinar Park.TOI had reported earlier this week that repeated waterlogging on the route had also slowed the movement of chief minister Suvendu Adhikari’s convoy towards his Chinar Park residence during the monsoon, prompting the police to create the opening as an immediate traffic-management measure.As the rain intensified, the situation deteriorated further on VIP Road and the Chinar Park stretch, both key approaches to the airport. Police personnel were deployed at several points, with some having to wade through water to regulate traffic and advise motorists to avoid the worst-affected stretches.For airport passengers, the disruption began well before they reached the terminal. Vehicles approaching from Chinar Park and the Haldirams Crossing, around 2km from the airport, had to crawl through congestion.By evening, water had receded from portions of the main carriageway. But several service lanes remained inundated. A Bidhannagar Traffic Police officer said personnel had been deployed at key junctions to manage the situation and prevent further gridlock.
