‘Infrastructure to ease out traffic woes’

Kolkata, February 9 Congested traffic in almost all major areas of the city has become a bane for the Kolkata police. It is desperately waiting for new infrastructure to come up, which according to them will make their task much easier.

At an interactive session with an NGO on the issue — “Traffic Management In Kolkata — here on Saturday, Kolkata police chief Gautam Mohan Chakraborty said in order to decongest the roads, the police were in discussion with the transport department to restructure the bus routes of about 240 buses plying in various routes. “A large number of bus routes are permitted on routes which are not required,” he said. Chakraborty said that the upcoming flyovers on the city’s map, including one at the VIP Road, and those connecting Garia to Jadavpur, Prince Anwar Shah Road to Kalikapur via Jadavpur and Park Circus to Paroma Island, will ease traffic congestion in the city. The police are also considering opening footbridges at Rajabazar and Park Circus.

The police chief had to face a barrage of questions at the session that ranged from educating people about traffic rules to monitor the action of traffic sergeants.

Chakraborty said the work of traffic engineering is beyond the duty of Kolkata police. Enforcement of traffic rules and educating people about the same are the areas where the police can contribute, he added.

“Vehicles will have to follow their lanes, otherwise they will be fined,” Chakraborty warned, adding that the bus stands will be relocated in such a way that they are placed 50 m away from any crossing.

The Area Traffic Control system that monitors the traffic using ground sensors and video cameras will be soon be installed at Dalhousie, Park Street and areas around the Shakespeare Sarani.