Kolkata Police to take over traffic management at Sealdah stn complex from GRP

Kolkata: The ordeal of commuters visiting Sealdah station is likely to be over as the Kolkata Police will now manage traffic at the station complex.

The traffic movement at Sealdah station complex has so long been controlled by Government Railway Police (GRP). But due to the shortage of staff, the GRP has not been able to manage traffic properly there. As a result, the commuters have always had miserable experiences to narrate. Those coming to the city by long-distance trains that reached Sealdah hours after their scheduled time are the worst sufferers. The parking lot is managed by some local youths who do not have any training in traffic management. Scuffles between the youths and drivers are a common sight. The queues for the yellow taxis are also maintained by the locals and passengers take anything between 45 minutes and 1 hour to come out of the Sealdah station complex. The commuters have written several letters to senior officials of the GRP who had pleaded helplessness. Finally, a high-level meeting took place between the officials of the GRP and city police where it was decided that the traffic management would be looked after by the latter from now on.

As there is shrinking of the parking area due to the construction of East-West Metro station, the city police have prepared a blueprint for managing traffic at the station complex.

There will be separate zones for yellow taxis, autos and app-based vehicles. Daily passengers will take separate lanes to reach the north and south sections. There will be separate zones for VIP parking. Gates will be installed and the station complex will be manned by policemen round-the-clock. The handcarts and vehicles carrying goods will follow separate lanes. Senior officials of the Kolkata Police have inspected the site and are working on the blueprint. There will be traffic sergeants along with constables at the station complex. More policemen will be deployed near B R Singh Hospital to help out the daily passengers.