Kolkata's iconic Park Street is set to transform into a grand Christmas carnival from Wednesday afternoon, but this year's celebrations will be under an unprecedented security blanket. In light of recent security concerns, including violence in Bangladesh and terror attacks in Delhi, the Kolkata Police have left nothing to chance.
Massive Security Apparatus Deployed
The Lalbazar police headquarters has assigned a formidable force of 2,000 personnel specifically for Park Street, with an additional 500 officers deployed for the periphery. For the first time, the police will employ four watchtowers and drones to maintain constant surveillance over the festive crowds. Two of these watchtowers, equipped with temporary control rooms, will be positioned at the crucial Park Street-J L Nehru Road and Park Street-Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Road crossings.
Ensuring the safety of women revellers is a top priority. Quick Response Teams, along with specialized Winners and Shakti teams, will conduct patrols on the pedestrian-only street and its surroundings. The security detail includes officers from the Park Street and Shakespeare Sarani police stations, supplemented by plain-clothes detectives and special branch officers. Senior officers are scheduled to join the deployment as evening approaches on Wednesday.
Traffic Restrictions and Crowd Management
In a significant shift from tradition, the police are preparing to potentially close Park Street to vehicles on Christmas Eve (Wednesday), instead of the usual Christmas Day. A final decision is pending, but the move is being considered due to pedestrian safety concerns, heightened by two recent accidents near Allen Park and JL Nehru Road involving a bus and a car.
"We usually close Park Street on Christmas Day. But we have been asked to be prepared to restrict vehicles on Park Street even on Christmas Eve. If the crowd swells, we need to take a quick decision," stated a police officer. Additional CCTV cameras have been installed across the zone to monitor the situation closely.
With school holidays already underway, the city has seen a surge in outdoor activity, leading to traffic snarls in several areas on Tuesday. Popular spots like Alipore zoo, Eco Park, Science City, and Nicco Park attracted large crowds, while eateries in Kasba, Ballygunge, and Salt Lake saw heavy footfall, slowing traffic post-7 PM.
Metro Gates and City-Wide Vigilance
Anticipating a mix of office-goers and revellers on Wednesday evening, police aim to prevent crowd build-up at any single spot on Park Street. To manage Metro station overcrowding, authorities plan to restrict the use of certain entry or exit gates at Park Street and Maidan stations.
The security plan extends beyond Park Street. Police will be deployed in other Christmas carnival zones across the city, including Lake Town, Patuli, and Elgin Road. Special attention will be given to streamlining vehicles of diners in the cafe-dense areas of Kasba and Sarat Bose Road. Significant police presence is also planned for St Paul's Cathedral and Science City.
At Alipore zoo, police deployment is scheduled to begin at 9 AM on Wednesday and continue until 2 AM the following morning. This comprehensive, city-wide security effort underscores the administration's commitment to ensuring a safe and joyous festive season for all Kolkatans and visitors.
