Kolkata, June 20 -- Ahead of the National Yoga Day event in Kolkata attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the city's arterial Red Road was ordered to remain closed for seven days, effectively blocking transport for thousands of commuters.

In a traffic notification dated June 14, the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, Ajay Nand, said the road was shut down for the "observance of the 12th International Day of Yoga" and that "commuters are requested to plan their journeys accordingly and follow the directions of traffic personnel."

The decision comes weeks after the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government had barred the Muslim community from offering Eid prayers on the Red Road, citing the need to ensure commuters are n...