Snarls paralyse traffic movement in city
Kolkata: Massive traffic congestion is taking place in Ultadanga, Lake Town and Airport area due to closure of Tala Bridge for vehicles weighing more than three tonnes.
Since the past few days, number of vehicles along the VIP Road and Jessore Road in Lake Town and Airport increased considerably paralyzing the traffic conditions in the city. According to sources, since Sunday, number of vehicles are availing Jessore Road and then VIP Road to reach Kolkata as massive traffic congestion has become order of the day in Belgachhia and on R G Kar Road.
According to Bidhannagar police officials, despite small cars are allowed to ply on Tala bridge, several cars from Dum Dum, Nagerbazar and adjacent areas are availing VIP Road as the traffic situation on Jessore Road from Nagerbazar to Shyambazar is in a mess. As a result, VIP Road is also getting congested. Also, the rush has increased due to Durga Puja which creating more traffic congestion.
On Monday and Tuesday, traffic snarl almost reached Kankurgachi for VIP Road-bound journey whereas the Kolkata-bound traffic was seen getting halted from Keshtopur. To tackle the situation, the police had to allow vehicles to ply along the service road from Dakshindari to Lake Town VIP Road crossing despite the road was earmarked for pandal-hoppers during Puja days. Sources claimed that on Tuesday night traffic snarl along the VIP Road till Lake Town was cleared around 2 am.
Almost same situation is arising in the airport area as number of vehicles are coming from Nagerbazar's direction, which are availing the VIP Road. Also, a huge number of cars are availing Belgharia Expressway to avail VIP Road for Kolkata-bound journey. As a result, traffic snarls have increased a lot. The situation is getting worse after 9pm as the restriction of plying of goods vehicles is getting lifted as other days. The number of goods vehicles has also increased as those are being diverted towards airport from Bally by Howrah Police.
On Wednesday, the police closed Golaghata, Sreebhumi and Lake Town Foot Bridge bus stands for passengers.
