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The concrete structure that blocks the footpath. Picture by Pabitra Das
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Calcutta police have violated a civic rule by erecting a concrete platform across a footpath adjoining the Lalbazar headquarters at the Rabindra Sarani-Radhabazar Lane crossing.
The police’s decision also violates the spirit of the chief minister’s order to her supporters to refrain from building Trinamul offices on pavements.
The platform, with steps on either side, has been set up to enable people to reach the counters for paying fines for traffic rule violations.
The counters were shifted from the first floor of the traffic department to the ground floor on November 28 to restrict the entry of outsiders into the high-security compound.
Calcutta Municipal Corporation rules ban setting up of temporary or permanent structures on pavements.
“There are some exceptions. Permission can be granted to erect a temporary structure on a footpath only for a ceremonial purpose for a certain duration against a fee. The law prohibits the use of asbestos or tin in such structures. Only plastic and tarpaulin can be used,” said an official of the civic body’s solid waste management department that looks into cases of footpath encroachment.
The civic body, the official said, is authorised to demolish an illegal structure suo motu.
Officials in the solid waste management department said they had drawn the Lalbazar top brass’ attention to the illegal structure but deputy commissioner (traffic) Dilip Banerjee denied the claim.
“I am not aware of the fact that the civic authorities have raised any objection (to the platform),” said Banerjee.
The assistant director of the solid waste management department, Baidyanath Dey, said a report on the violation by the police had been sent to his superiors.
But Swapan Mahapatra, the deputy director of the department, pleaded ignorance. “I am unaware of any such thing. We demolish illegal structures only when asked by the building department,” he said.
When asked about the platform, CMC director-general (building) Debasish Kar said: “There are encroachments across the city. I do not know what you are talking about.”
Deputy commissioner Banerjee said if the civic body raised any objection, “we would sit with them and sort out the matter”. The platform, he said, had to be set up as the counters are high.
Several cops posted at Lalbazar, however, said it was embarrassing to have been caught blatantly violating a rule and contributing to the traffic chaos in the busy central business district.
“When the queue gets long people have no option but to stand on the road,” said an officer of the central division.
“Police vehicles parked on the road make it difficult to walk through the stretch. And now this platform has blocked whatever little of the footpath was left,” said a pedestrian who crosses the stretch several times daily.
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