Kolkata authorities have tightened fire-safety instructions for Durga Puja pandals after a coordination meeting with organisers, warning that blocked exits, unsafe electrical connections and obstructed emergency routes could lead to strict action, including the cancellation of a puja in cases of serious violations.
The directions were issued at a meeting at Nazrul Mancha attended by puja organisers, police officials, fire and emergency services representatives and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand said public safety would not be compromised and that action would be taken against committees that violated safety requirements.
Shyamchandra Mondal, director-in-charge of fire prevention and emergency services, warned organisers not to treat a fire department no-objection certificate as the end of their responsibility. He referred to earlier fires in which exits had reportedly been locked or blocked, including the Stephen Court incident, and said a similar situation inside a crowded puja pandal could have severe consequences.
Mondal also said the fire department could not physically inspect all of the approximately 60,000 pujas before issuing no-objection certificates. The warning places responsibility on organisers to keep exits usable throughout the festival, rather than relying only on the initial approval process.
The police commissioner instructed organisers to make exits wider than entrances and to provide more exit routes than entry points. He also asked committees to ensure that decorative lighting, temporary stalls or other installations did not block any route. Electrical connections, he said, should be handled by authorised personnel.
The meeting also addressed access and assistance for visitors. Organisers were asked to create help desks for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and women. A women-run puja committee requested more women police personnel, while another organiser sought a dedicated helpline for puja committees. Police officials also warned against coercive collection of donations.
Crowd movement and night-time security emerged as additional concerns. Two pujas from each of Kolkata Police’s 10 divisions were invited to raise issues. Several organisers complained about motorcycle groups becoming more active between 2am and 3am, coinciding with police duty changes. They asked whether the shift change could be moved to the early morning. Organisers also raised concerns about late diversions imposed on visitors and requested more predictable crowd-management arrangements.
The absence of elected municipal representatives in Kolkata was another issue raised at the meeting. Puja organisers proposed appointing one ward- or borough-level municipal nodal officer to coordinate with committees. Kolkata Municipal Corporation Joint Municipal Commissioner Divya Murugesan said the proposal would be discussed.
Road conditions were also flagged as a festival-period risk, particularly because poor surfaces can affect pedestrian movement and emergency access. Murugesan said 500 roads were being repaired before the puja. The meeting’s next operational focus will be the implementation of these safety directions, municipal coordination and completion of the identified road repairs before the festival.
