Cars are being allowed to take the Parama flyover from Park Circus during daytime for the first time in three years, the unannounced change taking effect immediately after the west-bound ramp linked to the AJC Bose Road flyover opened.

Till that afternoon, that flank of the Parama flyover would be open to EM Bypass-bound traffic between 10pm and 9am.

The daytime restriction had been enforced five days after the flyover was inaugurated in October 2015. This was done as a stop-gap solution to the congestion at the Park Circus-end of the flyover, which was unable to handle the load in the absence of a ramp to share the burden of traffic dispersal.

But since the ramp over the Zeeshan crossing opened on Friday evening, traffic flow towards the seven-point crossing has apparently eased enough for the police to revert to two-way movement on the Parama flyover.

“The decision stands. All cars going to the EM Bypass through the Park Circus seven-point crossing can now take the Parama flyover to reach the EM Bypass at any time of day,” an officer said.

The Park Circus seven-point crossing below the east-bound Parama flyover ramp wears an unusually unhurried look on Monday, which was a state government holiday. Picture by Gautam Bose

The true test of the two-way plan is still to happen, though. Offices and schools were closed over the weekend while Monday was a state government holiday to compensate for Saraswati Puja coinciding with the normal Sunday break.

“The two-way plan has worked out well so far but traffic was light on all three days since we made the change. The real challenge will be Tuesday, when government offices and schools reopen. The Madhyamik examination starts as well and we have to ensure there are no snarls,” the officer said.

An engineer who drives to his workplace in Sector V through Park Circus every day said he was unaware that cars were being allowed to take the Parama flyover from there during daytime.

“I didn’t hear or see any announcements. The authorities should have put up signage where you can see them so that more people can use the flyover. It will benefit a lot of people coming to Sector V for work,” said the Bhowanipore resident.

Police officers said their primary concern was ensuring that vehicles arriving from all directions at the seven-point crossing do not face a long period of waiting to hit the flyover.

Additional traffic personnel are being deployed to overcome the teething problems.