Kolkata, Oct. 4 -- The Kolkata Police has announced traffic restrictions for Mahalaya, Durga Puja and idol immersion, including curbs on goods vehicles, road closures and diversions.
The restrictions will cover Mahalaya on October 10, Puja days from October 13 to 19, Durga Puja immersion from October 20 to 24 and Lakshmi Puja immersion on October 26 and 27.
On Mahalaya, goods vehicles will be barred from entering Kolkata from 3 am to 10 pm, except those carrying specified essential commodities. Vehicles weighing up to 1,600 kg will be allowed from 4 pm. From 4 am to 4 pm, goods vehicles will also face restrictions on routes leading towards the river ghats. Auckland Road will remain closed to all vehicles, while Kingsway will be closed except to devotees' vehicles. Further diversions may be imposed on arterial roads as required.
During the seven main Puja days, goods vehicle movement will be restricted for specified periods. Essential and emergency vehicles will be exempt, while port-bound and port-originated vehicles will be allowed between noon and 4 pm. Light goods vehicles and those weighing up to 1,600 kg will be allowed up to 3 pm.
Many roads across north, central, south and south-east Kolkata will be closed or have regulated traffic during specified hours. Parking, passenger pick-up and drop-off, and loading or unloading will also be restricted on notified stretches.
Special restrictions will be imposed around Kalighat on October 18 and 20, while roads leading to Baghbazar and Nimtala ghats will have no-parking restrictions on October 18.
During immersion, goods vehicles not connected with processions will be barred across the city from 8 am on October 20 to 5 am the following day, with similar restrictions through October 24. For Lakshmi Puja immersion, restrictions will apply on October 26 and 27.
From 3 pm on immersion days, traffic will be regulated or diverted on several roads. Several roads will operate one way, while additional diversions may be imposed according to traffic and crowd conditions.
Bus and tram services will be diverted or suspended on specified routes, while autorickshaw movement will also be restricted. Vehicles carrying idols will follow designated routes to immersion ghats and will not be allowed to use the AJC Bose Road Flyover or Maa Flyover.
The notification, issued by Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand, also allows traffic police to regulate vehicular and pedestrian movement as required.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.