In a strategic move to manage the massive year-end revelry, Kolkata Police has announced revised traffic arrangements for New Year's Eve and the upcoming weekend. The key decision is to keep the iconic Park Street and other vital arterial roads accessible for longer, reversing the earlier trend of complete shutdowns.
Revised Plan for Smoother Celebrations
The new strategy was finalized during a review meeting on Monday, focusing on traffic and pedestrian movement in the bustling Park Street area. Authorities noted that the city's popular hotspots continue to draw enormous crowds, and with New Year's Day falling close to the weekend, the festive spirit is expected to be high. The plan is to keep Park Street and important roads like Belvedere Road and Alipore Road near the zoo open on December 31st, unless the situation demands a closure closer to midnight.
An officer referenced the successful management on Christmas, stating, "On Christmas, we needed to shut Park Street for a brief period and there were no major traffic bottlenecks, except slowing down of vehicles for a short while on JL Nehru Road." Encouraged by this, police will now stop vehicle movement from the JL Nehru Road-Lindsay Street crossing towards Park Street periodically, as and when required, specifically if a bottleneck forms at the Park Street flyover approach.
Diversions and Decongestion Measures
Under the revised plan, vehicles affected by the periodic stoppage will be directed to take the flyover and enter the Park Street zone via Ho Chi Minh Sarani. To ensure compliance, extra police personnel will man the barricades. Furthermore, if traffic pressure builds, vehicles coming from CR Avenue and SN Banerjee Road and heading south beyond Exide will be diverted via RR Avenue and Red Road towards SSKM Hospital. This diversion tactic proved effective in easing congestion on Christmas evening.
Recognizing the expected vehicle pressure from Outram Road, police have also decided to keep two alternate routes to Park Street as clear as possible. The routes via Kyd Street-Free School Street-Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road and Ho Chi Minh Sarani-Camac Street-Short Street will be maintained as pedestrian-free zones to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Enhanced Security and Enforcement
Security will be significantly bolstered across the celebration zones. The entire Park Street area will be supervised by a team of 10 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs). Inspectors will lead security teams at major malls, which have recently witnessed unprecedented footfall. In a continued crackdown on road safety violations, Kolkata Police will also conduct regular raids to counter the menace of drink-driving on New Year's Eve.
This comprehensive plan reflects a balanced approach by the city's police force, aiming to facilitate public celebration while ensuring safety, security, and manageable traffic conditions for all.
