Chingrighata Block Trial: The Kolkata Police are preparing to conduct a second trial run of traffic restrictions at Chingrighata after the Durga Puja festivities, in an effort to address the long-standing congestion and frequent accidents at this busy crossing. The trial, which follows an earlier attempt earlier this year, is expected to test whether diverting vehicles and regulating signals can improve vehicular flow and pedestrian safety.
Why Chingrighata Needs Urgent Solutions
Chingrighata, one of the busiest intersections in East Kolkata, connects major routes such as the EM Bypass, Salt Lake, Sector V, and New Town. With thousands of vehicles moving through this junction daily, including buses, private cars, autos, and two-wheelers, it has become a traffic nightmare.
During peak hours, commuters often experience long snarls stretching towards Nicco Park and EM Bypass, while pedestrians struggle to cross safely. The problem worsens during the festive season, with increased vehicle movement and additional pressure on Kolkata’s traffic network.
Adding to the woes, the area has seen several accidents in the past, some fatal, leading to strong calls from residents and traffic experts for a sustainable solution.
Chingrighata Block Trial: The First Trial and Its Lessons
The police had earlier conducted a trial traffic experiment at Chingrighata earlier this year. The aim was to test alternative traffic movement by restricting certain turns and introducing diversions. However, the trial faced criticism from commuters, particularly IT professionals and residents of Salt Lake and New Town, who complained of longer travel times and confusion during peak hours.
Officials admitted that while congestion at the core of Chingrighata reduced to some extent, it created bottlenecks in surrounding stretches, particularly in and around Salt Lake’s Sector V, Nicco Park, and the entry points of New Town.
Second Trial: What to Expect After Durga Puja
The police have now planned a second trial run after Durga Puja, when normalcy in traffic movement is restored post-festivities. According to senior officers, the revised experiment will focus on:
- Restricting right turns at key points to reduce conflicts between streams of traffic.
- Re-phasing signals to allow smoother flow in multiple directions.
- Using barricades and lane dividers to guide vehicles more systematically.
- Dedicated pedestrian timings to ensure safe crossings at the busy junction.
- Enhanced deployment of traffic personnel to monitor compliance and guide drivers.
Authorities are also exploring the possibility of introducing intelligent traffic management systems (ITMS) in the long run, where AI-based surveillance cameras and automated signals could optimize traffic in real-time.
Public Concerns and Commuter Reactions
While police officials are hopeful, commuters remain divided. Many office-goers traveling from Salt Lake to EM Bypass fear increased travel time if turns are blocked. Auto-rickshaw drivers and bus operators, who depend heavily on direct access routes, have also expressed concerns about revenue loss and fuel consumption if diversions increase.
On the other hand, several local residents and civic bodies support the idea of stricter control at Chingrighata. They argue that the current situation is unsafe for pedestrians and schoolchildren, with cars often jumping signals or blocking zebra crossings.
A resident of Chingrighata told reporters, “We don’t mind a few extra minutes of travel if it means fewer accidents. But the police must ensure diversions don’t simply shift the problem elsewhere.”
Expert Opinions: Balancing Flow and Safety
Urban planners and traffic management experts suggest that piecemeal solutions may not be sufficient. Instead, a holistic approach combining road redesign, signal synchronization, and public transport optimization is needed.
Experts from traffic research institutes have also suggested that Kolkata needs to expand mass rapid transit systems and promote feeder services around Salt Lake and Sector V to reduce dependency on private vehicles.
Furthermore, there are calls for developing grade separators or flyovers at choke points like Chingrighata, though authorities cite budgetary constraints and land acquisition issues as major hurdles.
Durga Puja Factor and Why Trial Was Postponed
Durga Puja, the city’s grandest festival, draws millions of people onto the streets. With pandal-hopping, cultural programs, and a surge in traffic across all major intersections, traffic police are already stretched to capacity during this period.
Holding the trial run during the festive season would have risked severe disruptions. Hence, officials decided to wait until Puja concludes, allowing them to properly assess the impact under normal traffic patterns.
Looking Ahead: Can Chingrighata Become Safer?
The Chingrighata crossing symbolizes Kolkata’s larger urban mobility challenge—balancing rapid growth with outdated road infrastructure. The upcoming trial will be a crucial test for Kolkata Police to show whether practical and people-friendly solutions can be found without causing undue hardship to commuters.
If successful, the experiment could be replicated at other accident-prone crossings in Kolkata. If not, the city may need to look at more structural interventions, such as flyovers or underpasses, to keep pace with its growing transport needs.
Related Resources
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