Bidhannagar Commisionerate to install more traffic signals in Salt Lake

Bidhannagar Commissionerate will be installing several traffic signals at different roads of the city. The Commissionerate has decided to install those extra traffic signals after several cases of road accident in November and December.

Some of the traffic signals were already installed at the stretch, from Netaji Park Island to Pollution Control Board Crossing on Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.

“Around 24 road accidents, some of which were fatal, took place on that stretch in November and December. So, we decided to put more traffic signal on roads.

“Some of the local residents alleged that the flow of the traffic was hampered with the new installation but we do not have much options left otherwise,” said a senior police officer adding that the city has witnessed six road accidents from Friday to Monday evening.

“This is festive season. We’re expecting larger footfall from the previous year in the Bidhannagar Commissionerate area. There are clubs, parks, discos, pubs and many other entertainment zones. Revellers will pour the streets of the city in the last few days of the year. But we’ve to maintain the flow of traffic in the road,” the officer added.

New traffic signals will come up alongside the road which connects Ultadanga to Tank number 8. Some extra signal posts will be installed at different places of Sector V as well.

Police can also put signals in the stretch, Baisakhi to Purta Bhawan Island and Number 8 Island to Karunamoyee and at Labani, ATI Island, Phanri Island to City Centre Island.

“The numbers of the traffic signals which will be installed are still not decided. The work will start soon,” the officer said.

Most of the areas in Salt Lake were free of traffic signals. The sight of a car stuck in a traffic jam in Salt Lake is a rarity.

“We are getting positive and negative responses. Many people said, the normal flow of the traffic was gone. Driving car in Salt Lake was never like driving in the busy streets of Kolkata. But there are some people who believe that incidents of road accident will decrease by this move.

“Errant drivers speed off their vehicles in the roads of Salt Lake, especially after dark. Those incidents will reduce in number,” said the officer.