KOLKATA: Police are worried about crowds next week, especially on days ahead of puja, as office-returnees, shoppers and early pandal-hoppers will all hit the roads in the evening.
Apprehensive of jams, cops have urged people to check police’s social media pages for real-time traffic updates before setting out. “Keep enough time in hand while going out,” said an officer.
“There is a steady stream of people on the road, mostly shoppers who are also visiting pandals in the vicinity. With schools, colleges and offices still open and last-minute shopping underway, pressure on roads will go up. We expect a huge jump in pandal-hopping from Dwitiya,” said an officer.
A Lalbazar control room officer said there had been congestions near Gariahat, Hatibagan, New Market, Shyambazar, Anwar Shah Road and Behala market. “We did not have to divert vehicles, but we may from early next week when the office crowd also hits the roads,” the officer said.
The entire Kolkata traffic force will hit the roads from Monday, while the formal arrangements for controlling traffic around pandals will be in place from Tritiya, a day later. “With a spate of inaugurations slated for October 14 to16, we will be vigilant against illegal and double-lane parking,” said an officer.
Organizers at Chorbagan and Ahiritola Sarbajanin said despite demand, they did not let visitors to enter the pandals yet. “Muktarambabu Street is still not one-way. Lights are yet to be fitted and finalised but people are already turning up,” said Jayanta Banerjee, convenor of Chorbagan Sarbojonin.
Apprehensive of jams, cops have urged people to check police’s social media pages for real-time traffic updates before setting out. “Keep enough time in hand while going out,” said an officer.
“There is a steady stream of people on the road, mostly shoppers who are also visiting pandals in the vicinity. With schools, colleges and offices still open and last-minute shopping underway, pressure on roads will go up. We expect a huge jump in pandal-hopping from Dwitiya,” said an officer.
A Lalbazar control room officer said there had been congestions near Gariahat, Hatibagan, New Market, Shyambazar, Anwar Shah Road and Behala market. “We did not have to divert vehicles, but we may from early next week when the office crowd also hits the roads,” the officer said.
The entire Kolkata traffic force will hit the roads from Monday, while the formal arrangements for controlling traffic around pandals will be in place from Tritiya, a day later. “With a spate of inaugurations slated for October 14 to16, we will be vigilant against illegal and double-lane parking,” said an officer.
Organizers at Chorbagan and Ahiritola Sarbajanin said despite demand, they did not let visitors to enter the pandals yet. “Muktarambabu Street is still not one-way. Lights are yet to be fitted and finalised but people are already turning up,” said Jayanta Banerjee, convenor of Chorbagan Sarbojonin.
