Sree Bhumi Puja organisers in Kolkata plan to open the festival only during the দেবীপক্ষ period, limit elaborate jewellery on the idol and coordinate with police to keep VIP Road clear, after repeated complaints about traffic congestion and restricted access for local residents and emergency vehicles.
Kanak Debnath, president of Sree Bhumi Sporting Club’s puja committee, said the inauguration would be held on the second or third day of the দেবীপক্ষ, while immersion would be completed by the twelfth day. The revised schedule is expected to reduce the number of days during which large crowds gather around the Lake Town–Sree Bhumi area.
Debnath also said there would be no excessive use of jewellery on the idol this year. In previous years, the reported high-value ornaments had led to heightened security around the pandal, making it difficult for residents to enter or leave their homes during the evening and night, according to people quoted by Anandabazar.
The committee is planning a meeting with the police to address access for residents who have vehicles or sick family members at home. It has also asked the police to ensure that VIP Road is not blocked and is considering a green corridor for emergency movement.
The changes follow years of complaints about severe congestion around the puja venue. Residents have described being forced to use gate passes to reach their homes, while some said they left the area during the festival because of the crowds, loudspeaker announcements and difficulties in moving through the neighbourhood.
Swati Ray, a local resident, said she had stayed at her parents’ home in Baranagar during the puja in previous years because returning to her house became difficult. Another resident, Madan Mitra, alleged that emergency vehicles had previously been unable to enter the area and linked the congestion to a patient’s death. These claims were reported by Anandabazar and have not been independently established in the material available for this report.
An ambulance service based in Ultadanga said it had stopped operating in Lake Town and Sree Bhumi during the puja period because vehicles had repeatedly become trapped while carrying patients to VIP Road. Soumen Mahesh, representing the service, said the disruption began four to five days before the festival in earlier years.
The puja had previously attracted crowds before the formal festival period because of early inaugurations. Sree Bhumi Sporting Club was also associated with former minister Sujit Bose during the previous Trinamool Congress government, and its celebrations became known for large-scale themes and high-profile attention.
The current chief minister, Shubhendu Adhikari, has announced that puja inaugurations will not take place before the দেবীপক্ষ. The Sree Bhumi committee’s proposed opening on the second or third day therefore aligns with that stated policy. The effectiveness of the plan will depend on the police meeting, access arrangements and the implementation of the proposed green corridor during the festival.
