Top cop promises smooth traffic run despite restrictions on Talla Bridge

Kolkata: Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma assured citizens of a hassle-free pandal-hopping with a foolproof arrangement of traffic diversion and crowd regulation being undertaken in the wake of the ban on vehicles above three tonnes on Talla Bridge with effect from Sunday, which includes state-run and private buses.

Sharma along with senior officials of Kolkata Police, Additional Director General (Traffic) and CP of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate visited the Talla Bridge on Saturday to finalise the necessary diversion plan.

"Vehicles above three tonnes will not be allowed on the bridge. However, small and medium vehicles and pedestrians will be allowed. There is a pressure of traffic particularly during the Durga Puja as people from the north travel to the south and many come up to see the Tala Barowari Puja as well. Apart from the necessary traffic diversion in discussion with the state Transport department, we are also coming up with a plan to channelise pedestrian movement in a way so that people face no difficulty," Sharma said.

As per estimates of the Traffic wing of Kolkata Police, 600 buses ply on a daily basis on the Talla bridge. The Shyambazar Traffic Guard on Saturday carried out miking at the starting point of the bridge informing people of the development and urging them not to stand at the bus stop on the bridge but use the stop at Talla post office and Paikpara Crossing.

Eighteen routes of state-run buses and 24 routes of private and mini buses will be diverted. Some state and private bus routes will also be curtailed. A notification about the diversion and curtailment released by the state Transport department has been shared on the Facebook page of Kolkata Police.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while inaugurating the Puja at Naktala Udayan Sangha urged the administration to check that construction of shanties underneath the bridges does not happen.

"We had to rehabilitate residents who had built their houses under the Talla bridge. Daily chores like cooking and other activities by the dwellers underneath the bridge cause damage to it," Banerjee pointed out.

She also blamed the railway authorities for delay in granting permission for the construction of Majerhat bridge, a portion of which had caved in almost a year back.

"We have brought materials for construction from other places a long time back but the Railways took so long to give approval. We are trying to complete the bridge by December and if necessary, we will invest extra manpower," Banerjee said.