Kolkata: Bidhannagar Police has created a cut in the median divider on VIP Road near Haldiram Crossing as an on-the-spot traffic solution for vehicles to be able to bypass the service lane that faced prolonged waterlogging recently. Vehicle headed towards Chinar Park will get a direct exit without having to rely much on the service lane, an officer of Bidhannagar City Police said.The spotlight turned on the flooded stretch after CM Suvendu Adhikari’s convoy had to slow down in this area multiple times this monsoon. The arrangement will allow airport-bound vehicles to take a right turn towards Chinar Park directly, instead of having to negotiate the flooded service lane.The Chinar Park-bound vehicles from Ultadanga now have to travel nearly a kilometre past Haldiram Crossing to take a U-turn, enter the service lane and then turn left towards Chinar Park. Senior officers of Bidhannagar City Police said the new traffic arrangement would be operational only after a final inspection and clearance from the PWD and thetransport department. “The problem begins near Haldiram Crossing because vehicles have lesser room to manoeuvre,” said Krishnendu Dutta, a motorist.Police have also widened the Ultadanga-bound flank. Officers said one of the lanes could now be temporarily used for airport traffic during congestion, waterlogging or metro construction work.Earlier, police had temporarily routed airport-bound vehicles through the Ultadanga-bound flank between Haldiram crossing and Kaikhali to ease congestion. Officials said the new median cut and the widened flank would give traffic police more options when the arterial road comes under pressure.
