CU, Calcutta Medical College declared no-horn zones

The Calcutta Medical College and Hospital and University of Calcutta, College Street campus, have been declared "no horn" zones by the state Environment department.

The department has issued a notification saying that vehicles plying through the areas in the vicinity of the two colleges will not be allowed to blow their horns when in these localities.

The step was taken by the government after some students from CU's College Street campus urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her administrative meeting in Hooghly to stop political gatherings in College Street and the indiscriminate use of microphones as it affects the students adversely. The Chief Minister had responded promptly and asked the administration to take steps in this regard.

On the basis of the Chief Minister's instructions, the state Environment department decided to declare the area a "no horn" zone. The Environment department has already installed an electronic board prohibiting drivers from blowing horns in the area. According to a senior official of the state Environment department, the blowing of horns would not be allowed in important areas of the state, especially in places where hospitals and colleges are situated. The new rule would be implemented in various phases.

The department will deploy some of its employees in plain clothes at the designated areas to detect the vehicles who flout the instruction. An awareness drive will also be launched in the areas to make people aware about the campaign. Announcements would be made through microphones in the area and special trails would be conducted for 15 days in the month of June.

It has also been found that patients undergoing treatment at the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital were often inconvenienced due to the indiscriminate use of loud speakers and horns. The state government has also banned political rallies in College Street. No political parties will now be allowed to hold rallies in the area as the government has issued a notification in this regard.