Kolkata authorities have rolled out a detailed traffic management plan ahead of football icon Lionel Messi’s scheduled appearance at the Yuba Bharati Stadium, as the city prepares to host the opening leg of the GOAT India Tour 2025. The advisory, effective until the conclusion of Saturday’s programme, reflects the scale of public interest expected around the event and the logistical challenge of managing large crowds in one of eastern India’s busiest urban corridors.
According to the Kolkata Traffic Police, a series of diversions and restrictions will be enforced primarily along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass and its connecting arteries. The measures apply to all categories of goods vehicles and are aimed at ensuring smooth traffic flow, public safety and emergency access around the stadium precinct. A senior police official said the plan was designed to minimise congestion while allowing essential movement across key routes. Under the advisory, traffic on the EM Bypass will be regulated between Panama Island and the Ultadanga Flyover in both directions. Additional diversions will operate along Chaulpatty Road, Beliaghata Main Road and Narkeldanga Main Road, particularly at junctions that feed into the bypass. Commuters have been advised to avoid these stretches during peak hours and use alternative routes wherever possible.
Messi arrived in Kolkata early Saturday at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, drawing large crowds of fans eager to catch a glimpse of the global football star. City officials anticipate heightened movement around central and eastern Kolkata as the footballer attends multiple engagements before departing for Hyderabad later in the day. Authorities have coordinated with airport security, civic agencies and traffic personnel to manage the surge in visitors.
Beyond the stadium programme, Messi’s Kolkata itinerary includes high-profile cultural and sporting engagements, underlining the city’s growing role as a destination for global sporting events. Urban economists note that such visits generate short-term economic activity across hospitality, transport and local commerce, but also test the resilience of city infrastructure.
From an urban planning perspective, the traffic advisory highlights the importance of integrated event management in dense metropolitan areas. Experts point out that proactive communication, public transport coordination and pedestrian safety measures are essential to reduce disruption and carbon-heavy congestion during large gatherings. While private vehicle restrictions are often unpopular, they are increasingly viewed as necessary tools in cities striving for safer and more sustainable mobility. As Kolkata hosts the first chapter of the GOAT India Tour, authorities have urged residents and visitors to plan journeys in advance and follow official advisories. The episode serves as a reminder that global events, while celebratory, require careful urban coordination to balance civic life, safety and environmental responsibility.
Kolkata Issues Traffic Advisory Ahead Of Lionel Messi Visit To Yuba Bharati Stadium
