All guardrails and road furniture such as no-entry boards, speed markers, direction signage and traffic cones will be removed on Tuesday to prevent accidents caused by strong winds that will blow through the city under the impact of cyclone Yaas.

Traffic cops will also try to ensure that no cars are parked under trees during or after the cyclone.

A senior police officer said all traffic guards had been asked to carry out a survey of their respective areas on Tuesday to look out for traffic furniture on roads and vehicles parked under trees and ensure they are removed.

Hundreds of guardrails that are used as speed breakers, median dividers or barricades along footpaths will be removed from the roads. They will be tied along the roadside in bunches so they do not fly under the impact of the cyclone.

“We will ask the persons at the wheel to remove the cars from under trees. If no one is found around a car, we will find out the name and contact details of the owner from the registration number and ask him or her to remove the vehicle. If we fail to contact the owner, we may use a wrecker van to tow the car to a safe place from where it could be collected later,” an officer said.

People at times park their cars under trees to shield themselves from rain or wind. They often get injured after branches snap and fall on the cars.

Traffic cops, who are the most visible members of the Calcutta police, have been asked to withdraw from the roads during the cyclone to ensure their safety, Lalbazar sources said. “It is most important to be safe first. It would not help anyone if someone steps out during the cyclone and gets injured or dies. We can serve people only if we are alive,” a senior police officer said.

Police officers across the city, including those from the traffic department and police stations, made announcements to make people aware of the precautions that need to be taken before, during and after the storm.

Residents of buildings in the Alipore and New Alipore areas that have kitchen gardens and rooftop nurseries have been requested to enclose their gardens to prevent flower pots from flying and landing elsewhere.

The police made announcements in neighbourhoods like Tollygunge, Regent Park and Garia to fill PVC water tanks so they do not get uprooted and cause damage to life and property. “We have learnt lessons from Amphan. Water tanks can be really dangerous if not handled properly. We are requesting people to fill their water tanks so that the storm does not dislodge them,” said an officer in south Calcutta.