Cars stuck in traffic snarl in Maniktala. photo by Sayantan Chakraborty
Over 6,000 personnel from traffic police and another 6,000 home guards will hit the roads from Wednesday,” said Ajay Nand while meeting the press at Lalbazar during the launch of the Kolkata Police Durga Puja guide map.
Kolkata: Accepting that the traffic “waiting time” has increased in office hours, the Kolkata Police commissioner on Tuesday promised respite in the next 24 to 48 hours even as commuters complained of slow vehicular movement for the second consecutive day. “We are aware of the situation right now. The waiting time (at crossings) have increased during the office hours… A lot of people arrive at key markets and malls in the city. This leads to frequent crossovers in large numbers. For this, we have identified certain spots and deployed DC-level officers to lead the police team and ensure smoother traffic flow… However, once the puja starts, things will ease out. Flash protest against SIR at a few points added to the challenge. Commuters also faced a problem after several bus unions withdrew their services claiming police were requisitioning buses, a charge denied by Lalbazar.
The city’s pace on Tuesday — Tritiya — remained slow all through the day with vehicles slowing up near Gariahat Crossing, Park Circus, Sealdah and Esplanade besides Tollygunge Phari or Mominpore.