This story is from January 22, 2021

Diversions ahead: Kolkata braces for weekend traffic restrictions

The central security agencies, along with Kolkata Police, have planned a foolproof security arrangement to avoid any untoward incident during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one-day visit to the city on Saturday to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The visit coincides with a rally by chief minister Mamata Banerjee around noon from Shyambazar crossing to Red Road. Traffic police has asked Kolkatans to be prepared for traffic diversions on Saturday.
Diversions ahead: Kolkata braces for weekend traffic restrictions
A Kolkata Traffic Police barricade
KOLKATA: The central security agencies, along with Kolkata Police, have planned a foolproof security arrangement to avoid any untoward incident during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one-day visit to the city on Saturday to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The visit coincides with a rally by chief minister Mamata Banerjee around noon from Shyambazar crossing to Red Road.
Traffic police has asked Kolkatans to be prepared for traffic diversions on Saturday.
PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive a little after 3pm and will be here in the city for another four-and-a-half hours, with engagements at National Library and Victoria Memorial. “While Alipore Road, Belvedere Road, DL Khan Road along with a portion of AJC Bose Road will remain out of bounds for traffic at different points of time, CR Avenue will see limited restrictions on need basis in both north and central Kolkata due to the rally. Restrictions are likely on Bhupendra Bose Avenue and Jatindra Mohan Avenue a little after noon. “CM Mamata Banerjee will pay her tribute to Netaji at Shyambazar around 12.15pm,” a police officer said.
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With the final-day rehearsals for Republic Day scheduled on Friday, there will be a security blanket around Maidan and Race Course from Friday morning itself. “With the R-Day parade on Red Road on Tuesday, we will keep a presence in the area even on Sunday and Monday. The police briefing assigning roles to each officer during the VIP programmes will be held on Friday after the rehearsals. There will be considerable security cover at Netaji Bhavan on Saturday and the area is likely to witness some temporary restrictions in traffic movement if required,” said an officer.
Police sources said that with Saturday being a holiday, they are not expecting too many hiccups in traffic movement. “It is, however, advisable to ascertain the route diversions and traffic pressure before venturing to central Kolkata on January 23 and R-Day,” said an officer at Lalbazar. The police personnel will be placing the barricades well ahead of the programmes, a Lalbazar source said.
“Adequate security arrangements will be made for the PM’s scheduled visit to the city. There will be barricades along the roads wherever he travels. An extra security cover will be put in place alongside roads to keep a check on possible protesters,” the official said.
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