Police will be deployed in neighbourhoods around Gariahat in south Kolkata to ensure those thronging the area for puja shopping don’t park their cars blocking driveways and passages.
Senior officers at Lalbazar said the move came in the wake of complaints from residents about how cars would be left parked in front of their homes, making it difficult for them to move in and out.
The challenge becomes even greater around the time when puja shopping starts gaining momentum and buyers looking for parking space tend to park their cars wherever they find space.
Police officers said they expected the markets in Gariahat and adjoining areas to be bustling with buyers from early September.
“Officers will have separate beats around these residential stretches to ensure cars are not left parked on the roads that are ‘no parking’ zones,” said a senior police officer.
“They will direct motorists to the nearest parking lot in case someone is unaware of the location of a parking place.”
Officers said they had shared the numbers of the local police station and traffic guards with clubs in the neighbourhood and a number of residents so they can inform police about illegal parking.
The beat officer will be immediately asked to intervene and take appropriate action towards removing the parked vehicles, officers said.
Besides dedicated officers on “beats” along some of these residential stretches, a team of around 25 police personnel, including civic volunteers and home guards, is being readied to handle puja shopping crowds in and around Gariahat, senior officers said.
“Two officers will continuously move between Gariahat and Golpark, and Gariahat and ITI Ballygunge to monitor the flow of vehicles and pedestrians,” the officer said.
“Based on their feedback, the movement of vehicles along Rashbehari Avenue andGariahat Road will be controlled.”
From September, traffic signals around the Gariahat intersection will be on manual mode — instead of automatic mode — when the crowd starts swelling for puja shopping, officers said.
Pedestrian movement will be prioritised to avoid accidents during the evening rush hours.
“Parking in double line around the Gariahat market and on Rashbehari Avenue will not be allowed and there will be strict vigil so that no additional road space is eaten up, slowing traffic,” the officer said.