Kolkata Traffic Police is preparing diversions, localised road closures and additional deployments around 25 Durga Puja venues expected to attract significantly larger crowds this year, with Park Street, Behala, Baisnabghata, Alipore and parts of south Kolkata emerging as key pressure points.
According to a report by the Times of India, the police held a meeting that continued late on Monday to finalise arrangements for pujas that officers believe could become the festival’s new major attractions. The list includes Allen Park on Park Street, Netaji Sarak in Behala, Rajdanga Amra Kayjan Kalyan Samiti, Baisnabghata Patuli Upanagari Sarbojonin and Shakuntala Park Netaji Sangha.
Allen Park, traditionally associated with Kolkata’s Christmas celebrations, is expected to become a major Durga Puja destination this year. The venue is scheduled to host musical performances by star artistes and a prominent performer whose identity has not been disclosed. Kolkata Traffic Police is preparing to deploy traffic guards at key intersections in the Park Street area to manage vehicle movement during the festival evenings.
Police have said Park Street will not be closed, as the road is important for east-central movement. However, some smaller roads around Free School Street are likely to be shut to provide visitors clearer access to another puja venue expected to draw large crowds in the New Market area. The proposed arrangements are intended to manage pedestrian and vehicular movement without blocking the main Park Street connection.
In Baisnabghata, some bylanes are likely to be closed and alternative routes created for the Upanagari puja, which the police said has already gained popularity on social media. The traffic impact is also expected to increase along Biren Roy Road East and West because of two new large pujas. Local police have been asked to identify alternative routes specifically for two-wheelers in the area.
Netaji Sarak, near Muchipara off Siriti, has been identified by police as a particularly difficult location because it has few alternative roads. Any increase in visitor and local traffic there could therefore place pressure on the existing road network, although the report does not specify the final diversion route.
Alipore is another area expected to see a substantial rise in footfall. Alipore Sarbojonin has grown into a major puja over the past two years and, based on early trends cited by police, could rival established attractions such as Chetla Agrani and Suruchi Sangha this year. Officers said traffic would need to be regulated at Bardhaman Road Crossing and near Sri Sri Academy School, locations that could affect movement towards both Rashbehari Avenue and New Alipore.
The police preparations show how the expansion of individual pujas can quickly become a citywide mobility issue. While the final traffic arrangements and timings were not detailed in the report, local diversions, two-wheeler routes and intersection deployments are expected to form the operational response in the affected neighbourhoods.
