Kidderpore Road is high on the priority list—- Photo by Indranil Das
Lalbazar has requested PWD to urgently install iron railings along the median divider of Kidderpore Road, specifically on the stretch from 11, Furlong Gate to the Hastings crossing. Kolkata: In the wake of rising concern over both fatal and non-fatal road accidents, and constant illegal crossover by pedestrians in high-speed stretches around the Maidan, Raj Bhavan and Strand Road in the centre of the city, Kolkata Traffic Police alongside key civic agencies, has launched a comprehensive multi-pronged initiative to overhaul urban traffic infrastructure, improve lane discipline, and enhance pedestrian safety. PWD officials agreed to the mandate and requested a joint site inspection with the local Traffic Guard prior to execution. Cops also asked for setting up of LED lights on the Kidderpore Road stretch and ensure 24X7 electricity supply in the area.To tackle recurring accidents and reckless lane crossovers, senior officers requested HRBC to immediately execute proper lane markings on Vidyasagar Setu to streamline high-speed vehicular movement. HRBC officials assured that the work would commence shortly. To ensure seamless coordination, the joint CP Surya pratap Yadav directed the DC (Traffic) Sambhav Jain to organize a joint visit involving the KMC, assistant commissioners, and officers-in charge of the respective Traffic Guards. Yadav also requested PWD for installing gates at the cut-outs on both sides of the parapet wall along Red Road to prevent jaywalking. The blueprint for these key interventions emerged from a high-level Road Safety Week review meeting held at Lalbazar headquarters, presided over by police commissioner Ajay Nand. The meeting was attended by representatives from major stakeholders, including the Public Works Department (PWD), Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC), Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). Further decisions targeted major traffic corridors. Traffic police requested iron fencing along the median divider of Strand Road between Babughat and Princep Ghat. Addressing structural hazards on bridges, cops stated that they have also approached port officials to install median dividers and protective railings on both slopes of the Brabourne flyover, particularly around the accident-prone Khangra Patty curve.