Traffic Alert: Key roads to remain shut till 4 pm due to Durga puja carnival | See Details

The grand Durga Puja Carnival is scheduled to take place today on Red Road in Kolkata, bringing the city's post-festival celebrations to a dazzling close. The event will feature tableaux from more than 100 Puja Committees, showcasing the vibrant idols and artistic presentations that were displayed during the five-day festival. Due to the scale of the celebration, Red Road will be entirely closed to traffic, and the Kolkata Police have implemented extensive security and traffic control measures across the city center.

Security has been significantly ramped up in the area surrounding Red Road. Additional police forces have been deployed, and senior officers will be present to supervise the entire proceedings. A key security measure involves assigning one dedicated police officer to accompany each of the participating idol processions, ensuring orderly movement and public safety throughout the event. Furthermore, specific distances will be maintained between the tableaux to manage the flow of the carnival.

Commuters and residents must note the significant traffic control measures that will be in effect. The Kolkata Police have confirmed that vehicular movement on Red Road and several adjacent streets will be completely halted. Heavy goods vehicles will face severe restrictions in the city center for a specified period, typically from noon until the carnival's conclusion.

Specific road closures for commercial goods vehicles will be enforced from 12 PM to 4 PM on key routes, including AJC Bose Road, New Road, and Lovers Lane. More broadly, the movement of all goods vehicles will be restricted from 12 PM to 3 PM on the stretch of AJC Bose Road from Exide Crossing to Hastings Crossing, and along New Road, Duffrin Road, Lovers Lane, and Red Road.

Furthermore, general vehicular traffic on Khidderpore Road will be shut down from 2 PM until the carnival concludes, with traffic being diverted via the Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge) as an alternative route. Other vital road segments will also be affected: traffic will be restricted from entering Hospital Road from the AJC Bose Road crossing, and only vehicles bearing special Durga Carnival stickers will be permitted to proceed towards Mayo Road from the Jawaharlal Nehru Road crossing after 2 PM.

For those attending the event, parking facilities have been designated on major thoroughfares from 12 PM onwards, including Chowringhee Road, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Cathedral Road, Mayo Road, Strand Road, and R N Mukherjee Road. Spectators arriving on foot are advised to use AJC Bose Road, Chowringhee Road, Mayo Road, or RR Avenue for access. In anticipation of the large crowds, both bus and metro services will be operating with special provisions to facilitate public transport.