Several restrictions will come into effect on Tuesday when the results of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections will be declared from 16 counting centres across the city. Deployment of forces at counting centres began on Monday evening. The Telegraph gives a lowdown of some of the restrictions that will be in place, along with the bandobast for the day
- Number of counting centres: 16
- Strong rooms to be opened at: 7am
- Counting starts at: 8am
- Results likely: By 2pm
Each centre will be under CCTV surveillance and have a three-tier police presence around them
Liquor
All liquor shops and bars in all 144 wards in the city will remain shut till the election results are declared. Excise department officials have informed all bar and liquor shop owners about the restriction.
“All retail outlets, including clubs and hotels, will not be allowed to serve liquor till the counting is over,” said an excise department officer.
Senior police officers said in certain pockets they might extend the ban if there are apprehensions about law and order following the declaration of the results.
“That decision will rest on the officer in charge of the local police station,” said a senior officer.
Traffic
- Movement of vehicles on nine thoroughfares in south Kolkata, except those of the residents, will not be allowed on Tuesday to strengthen security around the counting centres.
The roads are Ballygunge Circular Road (between Ballygunge Phari and Gurusaday Road), Ritchie Road, Beltala Road, Palit Street, Dover Road, Deodar Street, Chakraberia Road, Lovelock Place and Paddapukur Road. Residents of these streets will be allowed after necessary verifications, police said.
“Since David Hare Training College on Ballygunge Circular Road is a venue for counting of votes, these restrictions have been put in place,” an officer said. “Similar restrictions will be imposed around other counting centres, too.”
- In Jodhpur Park, vehicles will not be allowed to move along Jodhpur Park First Lane from Loknath Mandir to Gariahat Road.
- The police said no vehicles would be allowed to head towards Hazra from the intersection of Alipore Road and Judges Court Road except those of the residents and the ones engaged in poll duty.
- Vehicles headed towards Chetla from the crossing of Harish Mukherjee Road and Chetla Road will be diverted along Harish Mukherjee Road between 7am and 1pm.
- Restrictions on traffic movement will be in place for vehicles heading towards Acropolis Mall on Rashbehari Avenue
Connector
In Behala, Biren Road Road East (between James Long Sarani and Diamond Harbour Road) will be closed and the existing auto stand near Vivekananda College will be shifted to Diamond Harbour Road.
- Vehicles heading towards Joka along Diamond Harbour Road have to move along the western flank — the one meant for vehicles headed towards Behala — on the stretch between Thakurpukur police station and Thakurpukur market.
- No vehicles except those on poll duty will be allowed to stop or park between Chiria More and Sinthee More on BT Road.