In a significant departure from the entrenched VIP culture in Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has issued a stringent directive to the Kolkata Police, instructing them to ensure that his official convoy never violates traffic signals or disrupts public movement. The order came after the Chief Minister personally intervened during a traffic breach on Red Road, signaling his preference for taking a longer route or an alternative road rather than stopping traffic for his convenience.
Incident on Red Road
The incident occurred on Tuesday when Adhikari was traveling towards the PWD tent in the Maidan area via Red Road for a scheduled meeting. As the VVIP convoy approached the tent, traffic coming from the Mayo Road-Red Road crossing and moving south was halted to allow the convoy to turn right. Following traditional security protocol, on-duty policemen immediately prepared to override the through green signal to clear the route for the Chief Minister's swift passage.
Chief Minister's Intervention
Observing the officers' actions, Adhikari summoned the senior police officer and stated that he would prefer traveling all the way from Fort William to the Mayo Road crossing, taking a U-turn, and then entering the tent. According to high-level sources, the Chief Minister told the officer that such preferential treatment was unnecessary, adding, "I am not that kind of Chief Minister. I will always abide by the law."
New Directive for Police
Adhikari has been consistently instructing the police that his vehicle and accompanying security detail must patiently wait at traffic signals like ordinary citizens. He clarified that while security protocols allow the police to strategically reroute his convoy through alternative passages if necessary, breaking traffic signals or causing public harassment under the guise of VVIP movement will no longer be tolerated. The Lalbazar police headquarters confirmed that this directive is being strictly enforced across Kolkata with immediate effect.
Immediate Implementation
Even when Chief Minister Adhikari visited the busy seven-point crossing at Park Circus, his convoy did not stop normal traffic. Both-way movement continued uninterrupted while his small convoy was parked beside the DC-SED office on Syed Amir Ali Avenue. This demonstrated the practical implementation of his new policy.
Administrative Reforms
Since assuming office, Adhikari has introduced a series of administrative reforms, balancing complete operational autonomy for the state police with a stern reminder to uphold accountability. By subjecting his own high-security movement to civic regulations, the Chief Minister has sent a powerful message across the state administration. The move has garnered widespread praise from the public, who have hailed it on social media as a positive step toward ending VIP culture.
