First ‘Gandhigiri’ then ‘Dabangg’ mode, this is how the police and administration plan to free Alipurduar town from chronic traffic congestion. The district headquarters has been reeling under persistent traffic jams, with footpaths across the city heavily encroached upon.
After prolonged complaints, the police and administration have finally responded to the growing problem. Operations are set to begin to clear footpaths of encroachments and remove illegal toto and auto stands from the city. Authorities have warned that arrests will be made if laws are not followed and that strict action will be taken. There have long been allegations that rampant business activities are being conducted by occupying the city’s footpaths.
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Footpaths along major roads—including Boksa Feeder Road, Maya Talkies Road, Shamuktala Road, New Alipurduar Road, and Cooch Behar–Phalakata Road—are lined with shop goods. Fast food stalls, biryani shops, fruit and flower vendors, shoe sellers, and tea stalls have taken over pedestrian walkways. Shop hoardings, signboards, and merchandise have significantly narrowed the walking space, leading to frequent minor accidents.
Illegal parking of totos and autos has further worsened the situation, making movement difficult for pedestrians. To address this, a meeting was held at the DSP Traffic office with city businessmen and toto-auto organisations. Municipal representatives were also present. It was decided that, initially, businessmen would be requested to remove goods and signboards from footpaths, and illegal parking would be cleared through persuasion. Police vans will make announcements using microphones across the city, and this ‘Gandhigiri’ approach will continue for two to three consecutive days.
DSP Traffic Shantanu Tarfadar said, “First everyone will be requested. If requests don’t work, senior district police authorities will decide what the next step will be.” According to police sources, if persuasion fails, joint operations involving the municipality and business organisations will be launched.
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Superintendent of Police Khandbahale Umesh Ganpat said, “Everyone will first be requested to free the city from traffic congestion. If that doesn’t work either, there will be extensive operations across the city. The city must be freed from traffic jams.”
Meanwhile, College Halt Business Association secretary Shyamal Nath said, “The municipality is responsible for this condition of footpaths. They have always been indifferent. We welcome this initiative by the administration.”
