Siliguri, Nov. 4 -- After the incident of Chorbagan, Kolkata during Durga Puja, the administration has introduced stricter guidelines for Kali Puja celebrations. No VIP entry gates will be permitted at any Kali Puja pandal in the city. Organisers have also been instructed to ensure wider exit routes, even if entry passages are relatively narrow, to facilitate safe crowd movement.
Shankar Ghosh, the Tourism minister of West Bengal announced this after attending a preparatory meeting for Kali Puja and Chhath Puja.
"There will be no VIP arrangements. The exit route must be wider than the entrance. From next year, we will also encourage organisers to opt for open pandals, with more open space and fewer restrictions on entry and exit," the minister said.
In another initiative, the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) will introduce awards for Kali Puja organisers for the first time. Three best pandals will be awarded in different categories.
Meanwhile, in a bid to ease traffic congestion in Siliguri, the state administration is planning to develop alternative roads to reduce the pressure on the city's existing arterial routes. Since assuming office, Ghosh has taken several initiatives to address the city's traffic problems. Parking arrangements were introduced at the Mela Ground near Kanchanjungha Stadium, while long-distance buses were shifted outside the city. However, congestion continues on major roads, including Hill Cart Road, Sevoke Road and Bidhan Road.
To find a long-term solution, the Urban Development, Irrigation and Tourism departments are jointly exploring alternative routes. One of the proposals involves connecting the first, second and third Mahananda bridges and examining the possibility of bringing the National Highway closer to the Mahananda Bridge to facilitate smoother traffic movement.
"Alternative roads are essential to ease traffic congestion in the city. We have held discussions and started exploring possible routes. These initiatives are aimed at the overall development of Siliguri," said Ghosh.
He added that Surya Sen Park would also undergo a major makeover, with an agreement with a private agency expected to be signed on Thursday or Friday.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.