Vehicles carrying supporters for Sunday’s Trinamul Congress rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in the Maidan ‘’would be allowed to park on either side of at least six key roads in the city.
Senior officers said close to 7,000 vehicles, most of them buses, were expected on Sunday, carrying cadres for the rally, scheduled to start at noon.
To accommodate such huge number of vehicles, the police have decided that parking will be allowed on both sides of CIT Road, Strand Road, Central Avenue, Chowringhee Road, AJC Bose Road and APC Roy Road.
Vehicles heading to the rally ground from Kolkata’s north will be directed along Central Avenue and APC Road while those headed to the programme via Howrah bridge and Vidyasagar Setu will be made to park their vehicles around Shahid Minar, Bangabasi ground, Gangasagar ground and either side of Strand Road, senior officers overseeing traffic arrangements said.
Amherst Street will used but if more space is required to park vehicles, the officers added.
Buses, minibuses, and other vehicles carrying supporters from parts of the city’s south and south-east will be directed down EM Bypass and towards Darga Road, CIT Road till Entally and a stretch of AJC Bose Road between Mullickbazar and Moulali.
“Since it’s a Sunday and the traffic load is expected to be relatively low, we have decided to park buses, minibuses and other vehicles on either side of some of the main thoroughfares,” an officer said.
“Parking will be allowed on Dufferin Road and Red Road as a last resort.”
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will be entering the meeting venue from Hospital Road.
A special corridor will be made to ensure the line of route for both is left free of vehicles on either side, officers said.
“We have been told close to 600 VIPs are scheduled to reach the meeting venue. Their vehicles will be accommodated in a makeshift parking lot behind the main stage on the Brigade Parade Ground and near the Ladies Golf Club,” the police officer said.
Processions are scheduled to converge on the meeting venue from all parts of the city. The venue comprises three separate stages, each of them capable of accommodating 200 people.
A ramp measuring over 300 feet has been built with two small stages on either side of the ramp. The main stage will have a giant LED screen. Twenty two cameras and over a dozen drones will be at work during the meeting, senior party functionaries said.
On Saturday afternoon, Banerjee turned up at the venue for half an hour to oversee the arrangements. “Will meet you all on Sunday,” he said before leaving.
“The entire Brigade Parade Ground has been split into 68 blocks where supporters will be accommodated,” said an IPS officer.
All officers have been briefed to ensure that at no point vehicular movement comes to a complete halt anywhere, the officer added.