Traffic crawl grips central and south Kolkata ahead of festivals

As the festive season approaches, central and south Kolkata experienced sluggish traffic movement on Thursday, attributed to various local factors. The congestion was particularly pronounced in central Kolkata, with SN Banerjee Road, Lenin Sarani, MG Road, and CR Avenue witnessing sustained heavy traffic throughout the day. Contributing elements included early dispersal at schools affecting normal traffic on Ballygunge Circular Road, Theatre Road, and AJC Bose Road (south-bound). Camac Street also faced traffic congestion in the evening. Despite the challenges, police managed to maintain continuous traffic flow and prevent bottlenecks.

The traffic situation is anticipated to persist on Friday, as indicated by police sources. In preparation for increased congestion, extra police deployment is planned for the Burrabazar-Posta area. Lalbazar sources revealed that a circulation plan might be implemented, restricting access to specific roads and enforcing one-way traffic flow during specific periods of the day.

Additionally, police campaigns and special mask distribution programs will be conducted in the area, with plain-clothes officers present in most major markets.