Kolkata Traffic Police has proposed converting around 115 existing free or illegally operated parking spots into authorised Kolkata paid parking zones before Durga Puja, with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) reviewing the locations for feasibility and implementation.
The initiative follows directions from the state government and is intended to expand designated parking capacity, generate civic revenue and provide greater security for parked vehicles. Each of the city’s 26 traffic guards conducted local surveys and submitted recommendations ranging from five to 25 potential sites. Lalbazar, the city police headquarters, has consolidated the proposals and forwarded them to the KMC.
Joint assessments have identified stretches on Amherst Street, Canal West Road, B.K. Pal Avenue, Camac Street and Diamond Harbour Road among the locations that could become operational ahead of the festival. The final decision will depend on parking demand, the effect on traffic movement and whether the civic body has access to the land.
The Park Street Flyover area has been identified for about 20 parking spaces. Police officers have also proposed a site opposite Kailash Building on Chowringhee Road, although the height and structure of the flyover could limit the number of vehicles that can be accommodated. Around Sealdah, the Park Circus traffic guard has recommended a location near Entally Market on a KMDA plot currently used by the KMC.
Other proposals include roadside spaces along APC Road, north of Khanna Crossing towards Shyambazar, and several lanes in the Jorabagan area. One lane at Malapara has been identified as a possible location to address parking pressure linked to Posta. The proposals were reviewed during high-level traffic meetings at Lalbazar, where officers assessed existing leased parking areas alongside non-metered free zones.
The police and the KMC are also seeking to curb unauthorised “ghost operators” who collect money from motorists without a valid KMC contract, public tender or official signage. Under the proposed operating rules, contractors and attendants will have to use handheld point-of-sale machines to issue printed receipts containing the vehicle number, entry time and applicable fee.
Parking attendants will be required to display official KMC identity cards. Each authorised stretch will also have to carry visible boards showing its boundaries, operating hours and standard rates. These measures are intended to distinguish official parking operations from unauthorised collections.
Police officers have asked the KMC to revive and recommission the multi-storey Parkomat facility in New Market, which they say could help reduce congestion and illegal parking in the commercial area. Lalbazar has also proposed a new multi-storey parking complex on Kolkata Improvement Trust land along Strand Road to address pressure around Burrabazar and the Howrah Bridge approach.
The state government and Lalbazar are developing a unified digital parking platform. The proposed system would support UPI and card payments, show real-time slot availability through GIS-mapped sensors and connect point-of-sale terminals with police databases for automated fraud tracking. The locations that receive final approval and the operational schedule will depend on the KMC’s feasibility assessment.
