Traffic was disrupted in many pockets as Kolkata and Howrah police restricted vehicles on a number of thoroughfares to stop BJP supporters from marching towards Nabanna on Tuesday.
Commuting between Howrah and Kolkata became difficult as the Howrah bridge and Vidyasagar Setu were closed to traffic and barricades were erected to stop BJP supporters from proceeding towards Nabanna.
Traffic was restricted on College Street, MG Road, Strand Road, Vidyasagar Setu, Howrah bridge, Amherst Street and Kingsway, causing snarls on the alternative routes through which vehicles were diverted.
Following were the worst hit stretches and pockets in Kolkata, from where maximum vehicles were diverted.
Barricades placed on Howrah bridge to stop BJP supporters, and (right) policemen (not seen in picture) fire a water cannon to disperse BJP supporters on Brabourne Road
Parama flyover: As Howrah-bound traffic had to be diverted through AJC Bose Road and Kidderpore Road towards Babughat because of the closure of Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah bridge, the ripple effect could be felt on the Parama flyover as the speed of the vehicles got reduced.
A resident of Baguiati in northeast Kolkata who works in an office in Behala in the southwest and travels every day through the Parama flyover was caught in a snarl on the AJC Bose Road-bound flank of the flyover around 11.45am because of the closure of Vidyasagar Setu. “I spent at least half an hour more on the flyover today than I usually do,” said the man.
Chittaranjan Avenue: The number of vehicles had increased on Chittaranjan Avenue as traffic was restricted on Strand Road, MG Road and Howrah bridge.
“Traffic was heavy on Chittaranjan Avenue till late in the afternoon, till the Nabanna Abhiyan was over,” said an officer of the traffic department. The traffic was worst hit between 1pm and 3pm, said an officer of Kolkata police’s traffic department.
Even after that, traffic was slow till late in the evening.
School students walk through an almost empty Brabourne Road flyover, and (right) passengers from Howrah station walk towards Brabourne Road looking for transport
Babughat: As the Howrah bridge was closed to traffic, those who were commuting between Kolkata and Howrah chose to avail themselves of the ferry service. Many residents of Howrah who work in Kolkata said they had a harrowing time trying to reach their workplace by crossing the river by launch.
“I stood at the ferry ghat at Howrah for 55 minutes before I could board a launch. There was so much crowd at the ghat today,” said Rajendra Mohan, a resident of Howrah who works in an office on Ganesh Chandra Avenue.
Lenin Sarani: Vehicles that were headed for College Street and Nirmal Chandra Street were diverted through Lenin Sarani. That caused congestion on Chowringhee Road, which in turn affected traffic on Chittaranjan Avenue.
JL Nehru Road: Vehicles headed for Vidyasagar Setu were diverted through Kidderpore Road, AJC Bose Road and JL Nehru Road.