Government and police vehicles parked in two rows on both sides of a road near Salt Lake’s Central Park are narrowing the carriageway and forcing pedestrians to walk on the road, even as West Bengal’s municipal affairs minister has instructed residents not to obstruct footpaths and has called for more road space by reducing parking to a single row.
The road beside the KMDA headquarters, also known as Unnayan Bhavan, connects the area near Bidhan Roy’s statue with Second Avenue. The road is also close to the police’s Araksha Bhavan. According to an Anandabazar report based on an inspection of the area, vehicles carrying government or police markings are routinely parked on both sides of the road, leaving limited space for moving traffic.
The parking is particularly significant because the surrounding area contains several government offices. Local residents told the newspaper that many vehicles remain parked for long periods and that the practice has continued for years. During busy periods, traffic using the connecting road faces reduced movement because of the parked vehicles.
Pedestrian access is further constrained by the condition and use of the footpath. A stretch beside Unnayan Bhavan has reportedly been occupied for years by tea and food stalls. The area also contains a large waste container and other obstructions. As a result, pedestrians are often pushed towards the carriageway even when vehicles are moving through the narrow road.
The report also observed government-marked vehicles dropping off passengers and drivers sitting on the restricted footpath. The service road beside Unnayan Bhavan has similarly been used at different times for parking government vehicles, making it unavailable to pedestrians in all conditions. The absence of a designated parking attendant was also noted during the visit.
The issue comes after municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Pal directed people not to park on footpaths in the interest of road safety. She also instructed that parking arrangements in Kolkata be changed from two rows to one row to increase the space available for vehicles. The parking near the government offices therefore raises a direct enforcement question: whether restrictions announced for the wider public are being applied equally around government premises.
Some drivers told the newspaper that crossing the affected stretch did not create a major problem and that the vehicles belonged to different government offices. Bidhannagar Police said that although Salt Lake is a busy city, traffic conditions there are not comparable to Kolkata and that two-row parking at the location does not significantly affect daily life.
The minister was informed about the situation and said she would investigate the matter. She said complaints received by her department are examined and resolved quickly, and that action would be taken in this case. The next step is therefore expected to be an assessment by the municipal affairs department of the parking, footpath and traffic arrangements around Unnayan Bhavan and Araksha Bhavan.
