Police launch traffic guide to help pandal-hoppers navigate Kolkata during Durga Puja

Police on Tuesday launched its Durga Puja traffic guide to help pandal-hoppers navigate the city during its biggest festival.

A long-standing pre-Puja initiative, the guide maps major Puja pandals and provides details of approach roads, entry and no-entry points, the nearest Metro stations and available modes of transport. It also lists emergency helpline numbers for Kolkata Police and essential services, including fire brigades, ambulances and vehicle breakdown assistance.

Launching the guide, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand said traffic management was an integral part of the city’s Durga Puja arrangements. Around 6,000 traffic personnel will be deployed on city roads during the festival, alongside about 6,000 home guards and civic volunteers to regulate traffic and assist commuters.

Full-fledged police arrangements will begin on Chaturthi, Wednesday, with personnel deployed to manage traffic and crowds as the festive rush gathers momentum.

Crowd management inside and outside puja pandals will be a key priority, Nand said, with officers preparing to handle large gatherings at popular venues and ensure smoother movement of pedestrians and vehicles in congested areas.

The police are also keeping a close watch on shopping districts witnessing a surge in footfall ahead of the festival. Last-minute Puja shopping has slowed traffic at several commercial hotspots, prompting deputy commissioners of police and other senior officers to supervise congested stretches and ensure smoother traffic flow, Nand said.

The guide is intended to help pandal-hoppers plan their journeys, choose suitable routes and access transport and emergency services during the festive period.

Calcutta has more than 3,000 registered Pujas, many of which draw large crowds.

“Our main motto is to keep the city traffic moving, to ensure the safety and security of women and children in crowded areas, and to keep the city crime-free,” an officer said.