An underground pipe-laying work in Behala that started on Tuesday has been hitting the rush-hour evening traffic on Diamond Harbour Road and James Long Sarani.
Police have sought additional manpower from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to manage the traffic till the work is completed in an estimated two-and-a-half months.
The work is aimed at improving the rainwater drainage in the low-lying areas of the city’s southern suburbs like Behala, Sarsuna, Thakurpukur and its adjoining areas.
The Kolkata Environmental Improvement Investment Programme (KEIIP), which is executing the project, has dug up two pockets in Behala — near the Behala Bazar and close to Manton — along the Diamond Harbour Road.
Buses and other heavy vehicles travelling south from Taratala along Diamond Harbour Road have been forced to move in a single lane since the other lane is blocked.
Police have shifted an auto-rickshaw stand near Behala market, relocated some hawkers along one of the flanks of DH Road and a stand meant for goods vehicles has been shifted to make way for movement of vehicles. But even that has not proved enough.
Senior officers said the width of DH Road had shrunk near Siddheswari temple opposite Behala market and adjoining Ajanta cinema because of Metro stations of the Joka-Taratala route. When buses move in a single lane, the queue of vehicles stretches beyond 600 metres to Behala police station, they added.
“We have decided to divert smaller vehicles to James Long Sarani from different points like Pathakpara and Taratala along DH Road,” said a senior police officer overseeing traffic movement in the area.
“Cars headed for Manton in Behala are forced to take a detour. We have sought additional manpower from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to manage the situation, particularly during evening peak hours when vehicles return to Behala from the city.”
Senior KEIIP officials said the underground pipeline in Behala would connect to a network of pipes in Sakher Bazar and ML Gupta Road in Barisha to bring the rainwater to Begor Khal and Chariyal Khal.