Cops to try out traditional methods to stop accidents

KOLKATA: A spate of late-night accidents, especially on EM Bypass, has led several traffic guards to come up with area-specific solutions to reverse the trend. With traffic management around the collapsed Majerhat bridge and the Dunlop bridge repair work eating into valuable night reserves, the traffic guards have decided to use some traditional methods to cut down speed and target drunk drivers.


The traffic guards at Kasba and Beliaghata have decided to install go-slow guardrails on Bypass post 10pm. “We want zigzag flow of traffic to put the brakes on speeding. Though it is not the ideal solution, it is a time-tested one that also helps in carrying out spot naka checks to curb drink-driving,” claimed a source.

In addition, Kolkata traffic police has decided to launch a specific plan to cut down on jaywalking, especially on speed corridors like EM Bypass, DH Road and AJC Bose Road. On Bypass, cops have put up guardrails at the medians and have used iron chains to tie up each of these furniture to ensure no one can cross over except at designated spots. “We have completed putting up guardrails along a 1.5km stretch,” said a source. In addition, cops are stressing on shoulder-line marking, especially at bends that tend to be more accident prone.

Elsewhere, the police are seeking help of civic agencies to plug the meridians. “Kolkata has a shortage of subways. Even if there is one, Kolkatans hardly use them. Hence, we are carrying surveys with KMC and KMDA to put up median railings. We have also written to them to repair certain stretches. This is especially true for Bypass. Work near Abhishikta and Mukundapur has already started,” said a police officer.

With fog adding to motorists’ woes, it is also the time when accidents usually see a spike. “We have been instructed to hand over drink-driving cases to the local police station and even recommend that the RTO suspends the driver’s licence temporarily. We have intensified the drive since the start of December. We will carry out checks on weekends and randomly choose areas on weekdays. The drive on the festive days will be the most intense one,” said an IPS officer.