Kali Puja in Barasat, Madhyamgram means a crowd of lakhs of people. Walk through the night, see the light of the lamp. But not everyone walks anymore. Many people come out to see Thakur on four-wheelers, totos and rickshaws. As a result, traffic congestion has already started across the city. In the meantime, traffic control has started from Sunday afternoon.
Monday, October 20, is Kali Puja. However, even before the start of the puja, the people of Barasat have been suffering from severe traffic congestion. It takes about an hour to cover the 15-minute road. Many people are also expressing their anger on social media. Food Minister Rathin Ghosh and Barasat MLA Chiranjeet Chakraborty were caught in the jam on Saturday. The MLA was stuck in a traffic jam for about an hour near the railway gate number 11 on National Highway 12. He also came to a puja pandal and vented his anger. He said he had not experienced anything like this in 15 years.
The district administration has tightened restrictions on traffic in Barasat and Madhyamgram. As per the rules, the traffic control will be tested from today. Barasat Superintendent of Police Pratiksha Jharkharia had earlier said that the rules will have to be strictly followed from the day of Kali Puja.
If you want to travel from Kolkata to Barasat via Jessore Road or National Highway 12, or Krishnanagar Road, then there are some routes open for you.
In case of heavy vehicles, no vehicles will be allowed to ply on Jessore Road or National Highway 12 from 4 pm to 4 am. It will be completely closed for four days of the puja. Alternatively, these vehicles can take the Kalyani Expressway.
From 4 pm, any bus from Kolkata to Barasat will be allowed to go up to Rathtala. After that, you will be able to take a private car to Jessore Road via Dak Bungalow. However, traffic from Dak Bungalow to National Highway 12 will remain closed.
On the opposite side, you can go to Krishnanagar Road and the Devak intersection. If you want to come to Barasat along Barrackpore Road, you can go up to Satyabharati School. The bus will be diverted from here. In the case of Jessore Road, buses can come up to Ganji Mill. Certain autos will ply on Jessore Road.
As an alternative route, you can take the Kalyani Expressway along the left side of Sodpur Road up to Madhyamgram Chowmata. If you turn right, you can take Basirhat Taki Road along Badu Road. Even when coming from Kolkata, you can easily catch Kalyani Road along the Belgharia Expressway via Birati.
Parking arrangements have been made at various places in the case of bikes. You can park your bike there and go to see Thakur. However, the superintendent of police said that although there is a call to control the traffic from 4 pm, it may lead to additional traffic depending on the situation.
Parking will be available at Sethpukur, Colony intersection, near Dak Bungalow, and before Barasat Chapadali intersection. Parking is available at two places in Madhyamgram. One is opposite the municipality, the other is in front of the Meghdoot bus stop on Jessore Road. No totos or motorised vans will ply on the national highways during these few days.
How will they return to their homes?
Many people have to do emergency duty during this puja. Traffic from Dak Bungalow to Colony intersection and KNC Road to Haritala will be completely regulated, but they will be allowed to travel by showing their Aadhaar cards.
Additional police, civic and home guards will be on the streets to deal with the situation. Police surveillance will continue from 3 pm to 5 am.
