The city police commissioner, Soumen Mitra, on Thursday said the force was expecting more vehicles on the roads during Durga Puja this year compared with the festive days of 2020.
Mitra promised elaborate arrangements to handle traffic during the Puja.
“The high court’s instructions and the state government’s orders are very clear. We will abide by that. We expect all Puja organisers to stick to the rules and people to have the sincerity to follow the norms,” the top cop said outside the Alipore bodyguard lines after chairing a meeting with his officers on Durga Puja.
During the Puja in the pre-Covid times, the police used to lay more emphasis on crowd and traffic management at night. This year, equal emphasis will be laid on policing during the daytime and at night as officers believe the pattern of people going out may change because of the Covid situation.
Many who are cautious and like to avoid crowds on the roads might visit pandals without getting out of their cars, an officer said.
“We are expecting staggered movement by pandal-hoppers. As the night curfew has been relaxed during the Puja, many are expected to go pandal-hopping at night. But those who are more cautious may deliberately avoid this window and step out in the morning or afternoon,” said an assistant commissioner.