Cops keep 9 am-11 am traffic moving in heart of Kolkata
Major city thoroughfares leading to the city centre, like JL Nehru Road, Asutosh Mukherjee Road, SP Mukherjee Road, Red Road, Hospital Road, Park Street, Shakespeare Sarani, AJC Bose Road and Old Court House Street had free-flowing traffic. Traffic also moved freely on CR Avenue till Chandni Chowk and on roads like BB Ganguly Street, GC Avenue, and other stretches till 11 am. A handful of public buses carrying office-going commuters further helped in reducing the chaos.
As TOI crisscrossed the city, it found only Strand Road — where large vehicles carrying supporters were being parked since early morning — had slow-moving traffic. Even with traffic movement disallowed on Esplanade East Road and the portion of CR Avenue and Chowringhee Road between Chandni Chowk and CR Avenue, there was no major snarls in the city centre.
You Can Also Check:
Kolkata AQI
|
Weather in Kolkata
|
Bank Holidays in Kolkata
|
Public Holidays in Kolkata
A lawyer who drove to the high court from Dum Dum said his travel time was unaffected.
"It took the same time as other days. I saw some procession vehicles on Central Avenue, but it didn't block my way," he said. Another lawyer who travelled from Beckbagan mostly had a smooth commute but noticed a crowd building around 10.15 am near the high court, which again didn't block his way.
Another lawyer, who commutes from Uttarpara, reported delays before reaching Howrah bridge. "It usually takes 45 minutes. Today it took almost two hours," he said, questioning whether the court's order was fully implemented.
Many said while vehicles were moving through most of central Kolkata during the restricted hours, areas around GPO, Fairlie Place and BBD Bag experienced slowdowns. Buses from districts were parked along the curbs, narrowing roads and slowing down traffic on APC Road. Supporters also squatted on pavements and sometimes on the streets, eating and resting.
At certain points, Trinamool supporters were seen marching on key roads despite restrictions.
A group walked along Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road during the restricted window, forcing police to divert vehicles from Rashbehari crossing. On Howrah bridge, a slow-moving march towards Esplanade disrupted flow intermittently.
"We didn't allow any rallies to start from Sealdah, Esplanade, and other areas before 11 am. As a result, we were able to keep the heart of the city moving. We admit there was a partial slowdown at places, but largely there were not many complaints," said a senior officer of Kolkata Police.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Cabinet likely to decide on 42% BC quota, panchayat polls & key reports today
Hyderabad: The state cabinet meeting on Monday is likely to decide on fixing 42% reservations for the Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies and proceeding with panchayat elections . Sources told TOI that the govt must decide on BC reservations as the high court-set deadline to finalise reservations within a month expired two days ago. The court also directed the govt to complete the panchayat elections by Sept 30. With the ordinance to remove the 50 cap on the quota from the Panchayat Raj Act of 2018 still pending with the governor, and the issue of including the enhanced BC quota in the IX Schedule of the Constitution likely to take much more time, the cabinet must decide on reservations or inform the court of the reasons for the delay. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad One of the key reports that would be placed before the cabinet for discussion is the over 300-page report submitted by Justice (Retd) Sudarshan Reddy-led independent group of experts, which analysed the caste survey data. The cabinet would discuss the report in detail and is likely to decide on fixing reservations for the BCs in local bodies. The govt plans to approve this report and place it in the assembly for discussion. The cabinet would also discuss the road map as the Kaleshwaram probe report is likely to be submitted in a day or two. Justice (Retd) PC Ghose arrived in the city on Sunday. The extended term of the Ghose commission probing the case expires on July 31. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stylish New Mobility Scooters Available for Seniors (Prices May Surprise You) Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Search Now Undo Likewise, the experts committee, appointed by the state govt to probe the exact cause of a major blast in Sigachi industries which claimed over 40 lives, has submitted its report, along with its recommendations, to the govt. The report would be placed before the cabinet. Distribution of ration cards, Indiramma houses, Gig Workers Welfare Bill, Rajiv Yuva Vikasam, monsoon agriculture plan, and other key issues the govt needs to focus on ahead of panchayat elections are likely to be discussed in the cabinet meeting. The cabinet was originally scheduled to be held on July 25, but was deferred to July 28 as most of the ministers, along with the CM, were in New Delhi on July 24, where they gave a presentation to the AICC top leaders and MPs about the caste survey. The following day, the BC community ministers stayed back in the national capital to attend the Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan at Talkatora Stadium, due to which the cabinet meeting was postponed to Monday.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Women candidates can use both maiden and married names on EVMs: Maharashtra SEC
1 2 Pune: The State Election Commission (SEC) has allowed women candidates to display both their pre-marriage (maiden) and post-marriage names on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), provided they formally request it and meet the eligibility criteria, senior officials told TOI over the weekend. The directive, issued ahead of the upcoming local body elections in the state, is expected to benefit women known in public life by both names. But officials clarified that the name on the nomination form must match the name in the voters' list. Once the nomination is submitted, candidates may file an application with the returning officer requesting both names appear on the EVM. The application must be filed before the final date of withdrawal of candidature, the SEC stated. To support the request, candidates will need to submit a marriage certificate or a govt-issued gazette notification confirming the name change. In the absence of a gazette, one of 17 acceptable proofs — as prescribed by the SEC in a 2011 order — may be submitted. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune The recent order issued by the SEC was signed by secretary SEC Suresh Kakani. "Earlier, there were no clear guidelines and the recent SEC order will help the women candidates decide on the same," a senior official said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "This move acknowledges identity transitions post-marriage while giving women the option to retain both identities during elections," another senior SEC official told TOI. However, the official added that both names will appear in full on the EVM only if space permits. Maharashtra has reserved 50% of seats for women - in municipal corporations, councils, nagar panchayats, zilla parishads and panchayat samitis. Of these, over 1,370 seats in municipal corporations and 3,885 seats in councils and nagar panchayats have been set aside for women candidates. Civil society groups and political observers welcomed SEC's decision. "This is a progressive step. In many Maharashtrian households, a woman's name changes completely after marriage. Allowing both names helps her preserve her identity," said a political analyst. A former PMC corporator said it would help women who are known by their maiden names in the area, and putting both names would be an advantage for them. "Since the SEC has announced it much ahead of the actual polls, I would consider giving all the documents to ensure that both my maiden name and the name post-marriage are included," the former corporator told TOI. The state is set for one of the biggest rounds of local body elections, covering 29 municipal corporations, 244 municipal councils, 147 nagar panchayats, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Lunglei fully prepared to start biometric enrolment of Myanmar refugees: Official
1 2 Aizawl: South Mizoram's Lunglei district administration is all set to commence biometric enrolment of refugees from Myanmar taking shelter in the district from this week, a senior district official said on Sunday. The official said the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has been clearing all the test data entries in the Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP) for the commencement of the actual entry of biometric data. "The MHA has given instructions not to make any entry of data and also to hold everything until further orders. The MHA officials also said information and instructions would be given as to how soon the collection of data can begin," he said. The official said the Lunglei district administration is now fully prepared to go ahead before the end of July, if and when the MHA clears the test data entries in the FIP. Mizoram home secretary Vanlalmawia told TOI that Rs 38 lakh has been allocated by the state govt as initial expenses for the collection of biometric data of the refugees that is slated to begin later this month. The entire expenditure for the exercise will be borne by the MHA. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Launch at Godrej Sector 12 | Luxurious 3 BHK + S & 4 BHK Homes @₹2.90 Cr* Godrej Majesty Learn More Undo But as the Centre wants to expedite the process, the initial expenses will be taken up from the state's fund, with more expenditure to be incurred when the process is finally picked up. For this task, computer, web cameras and other electronics equipment will be required to be procured, officials said, and the procurement process has already been undertaken. The state govt is now fully prepared to go ahead with the biometric enrolment of Myanmar nationals taking shelter in the state. 'Foreigners Identification Portal & Biometric Enrolment' (FIP&BE) will be used in the biometric enrolment process, Vanlalmawia said. According to the latest govt record, there are 32,504 Myanmar displaced people in Mizoram. Champhai, Lawngtlai and Siaha districts host the maximum number of refugees from Myanmar. According to the latest figure of district police, there are 1,991 refugees from Myanmar taking shelter in Lunglei district during early July.
