A stretch of EM Bypass, between Beleghata and the VIP Road flyover, remained closed for nearly five hours on Sunday as protesters demanding justice for the RG Kar rape and murder victim assembled in large numbers in front of the Salt Lake Stadium.

The protesters — many of them were supporters of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting clubs, who joined hands rising above their fierce rivalries to demand justice for the victim — had gathered near the “VIP gate” of the stadium before spreading to both flanks of the Bypass.

Police had to use lathis on several occasions to push them back.

Vehicular movement on the 2.5km-stretch of the Bypass was closed from around 4pm. It was again opened to traffic after 8.30pm, the
police said.

“The airport-bound vehicles were diverted from the Chingrighata crossing. They moved via the Salt Lake Bypass and New Town to the airport. Those who were headed for Ultdanga were also diverted from the Chingrighata crossing. They reached Ultadanga through the roads inside Salt Lake,” said a police officer.

“Vehicles headed towards Science City from Ultadanga were diverted to Salt Lake from the Hudco crossing. They moved via Broadway and again took EM Bypass from Chingrighata,” said the officer.

A police officer said the vehicles that were diverted moved slowly and there were snarls near the points of diversions. Being a Sunday, there were fewer vehicles on
the road.

The impact would have been far worse, and spread to Salt Lake, New Town and large parts of Calcutta, had the protest happened on a weekday, the officer said.

Those who took the Bypass had to make long detours. The rain had already slowed down traffic. The closure of the protest-hit stretch of the Bypass only made matters worse.

Officials at the airport said many passengers arrived late. “The rain and the closure of the Bypass were responsible for the delay,” an official said.

A Jadavpur resident who went to Barasat on Sunday afternoon, before the Bypass stretch was closed to traffic, had to take a detour while returning home.

“My car was diverted to Salt Lake from the Bypass. I drove through Salt Lake to reach Chingrighata and then hit the EM Bypass again,” said the man.

The protesters assembled in large numbers outside Salt Lake despite prohibitory orders by the police. They first gathered outside the “VIP gate” of the stadium, between the Belegahta and Swabhumi crossings.

The police chased them away several times and tried to restore traffic on the Bypass. But every time the protesters regrouped and foiled the police’s attempt.

As the police chased them away, the protesters moved first towards the Hyatt Regency crossing and then further away near southern end of the VIP Road flyover.