Garia-more, a major road connecting point by between Kolkata and South 24 Parganas, continues to be a headache for the Regent Park Trafc Guard for ensuring smooth trafc movement largely because of the presence of terminal point of three bus routes. Auto and slow moving rickshaws are only means of transport for adjoining areas like Boral, Kamdahari, Brahmapur, Purba Putiari. It is a challenge for Regent Park Trafc Guard to unclog trafc snarl at Garia-more.
Attempts are being made to relocate terminal points for removing trafc congestion because of the existing bus stand and the rickshaw stand. The number of vehicles passing through roads had gone up considerably as the area is growing too fast as many new housing projects are coming up. A major section of people settling at Garia and adjacent localities own a car. The ever increasing number of cars has added pressure on roads in this area. Earlier about 60 vehicles used to cross a trafc signal in a minute while this number now has been increased by fty percent. The Regent Park Trafc Guard authorities are now hoping to involve local councillors for exploring suitable ways to deal with the problem as they were successful in similar exercise in Tollygunge area where things could be settled with the involvement of the people’s representatives.
The Ofcer in Charge of Regent Park Trafc Guard Prabir Kumar Bhattacharyya said that they were able to relocate the starting points of the 14 routes from outside of Tollygunge Metro railway station which helped in removing congestion through mutual cooperation of the passengers drivers and police. He said the unfair competitions among auto drivers were the primary reasons for trafc congestion in such important areas particularly during the peak hours. Regent Park Trafc Guard primarily debarred autos to line up in three rows and auto stand of different routes were relocated at different adjacent locations near Tollygunge metro railway station. Metro passengers and commuters now queue up for auto and the police make auto to maintain queue and stop frequently and overtaking on busy Deshpran Sashmal Road, Uttamkumar Sarani. Road blockade by errant auto drivers is also a past phenomenon. Regent Park Trafc Guard organize road safety awareness campaign by involving locals, school students, clubs to make ‘Safe Drive Save Life’ campaign successful. Habitual offenders on the road are tackled effectively. Drunken driving has been efciently controlled through rapid checking with breath analyser. Deshpran Sashmal Road near Tollygunge tram depot has been widened by ve feets adding new momentum in the trafc ow. Regular attempt to increase the awareness of the commuters helped all concerned as there was no conict of interest in the matter.
Entire area is quite important with the presence of renowned schools, important ofces and institutions. The area is home of well known Technicians Studio, New Theatres, Indrapuri, Dasani and Kolkata Movietone Studio. The ofce of the Film Division, National Jute Technology Research Institute, Japanese Consulate, Tolly Club and M R Bangur and M R Bangur Super Specialty Hospital are located here. A good number of reputed public schools including Future Foundation, Holy Home, St Claire, Ananda Ashram, Nripendranath High School, Boral High School, Narmada High School, Industrial Training Institute (ITI) are situated in the area. Several important Durga Puja committees organise their programmes with great fanfare with the presence of high prole people during those festive days make the transport arrangement very difcult. There are two kiosks of this trafc guard—one is at Garia-more and another is at Tollygunge tram depot to provide assistance for trafc. Besides automatic trafc signal personnel of this trafc guard covers trafc beats throughout the area to maintain smooth movements of trafc.
Prabir Kumar Bhattacharyya, Ofcer in Charge of this trafc guard said, “We strive to make this area zero accident one and deliberate continuously with drivers and commuters. Already we have secured rst position in ‘Safe Drive Save Life’ campaign and received the honour from Hon’ble Transport Minister of West Bengal. We have also bagged second prize for lessoning the number of accident and received award from Commission of Police, Kolkata. ”
By Our Special Correspondent
