Fifteen minutes from the airport!

The real estate hoarding near the BT College crossing looks absurdly misplaced for motorists trying to start-stop-yawn their way through unending snarls on the cratered Jessore Road.

The “15-minute drive” on the 2km stretch from the airport’s Adhai No. Gate to BT College on Sunday — considered a lean day for traffic — set Metro back by an hour and 30 minutes. Other than potholes and pond-like puddles, a slew of traffic violations made matters worse. Those responsible for road maintenance and smooth traffic flow turn a blind eye to the chaos.

Police inaction

We saw: Cars, two-wheelers and buses travelling through wrong lanes and taking U-turns at will. Civic volunteers managing traffic say they don’t have the expertise and training to handle such situations. One can barely see a policeman on the road. Even police vehicles violate rules. On the airport side of Belghoria Expressway, buses and trucks climb the road divider to take U-turns. “Nobody listens to us… we have no power to book offenders,” a volunteer says.

Cops say: “We don’t have enough men to manage traffic in the entire commissionerate area. We are forced to hire volunteers on an annual contract,” says Subrata Bandopadhyay, the deputy commissioner (headquarters) of Bidhannagar city police.

What cops can do: Book the traffic offenders. Slap fines up to Rs 200.

Parking peeves

We saw: Trucks laden with goods, empty buses, taxis, autorickshaws and even cars are parked in no-parking zones, clogging both flanks of the road. Motorists claim that local goons run the parking racket, charging a monthly fee from the trucks. Metro spotted at least four trucks parked in front of the Airport City housing complex while a police jeep stood barely 10 metres away.

Cops say: “We have been asked to maintain law and order. It is not our duty to check illegal parking or manage traffic,” says the on-duty officer from Airport police station.

What cops can do: Seize driving licences of the offenders. Slap fines of up to Rs 300.

Encroached avenues

We saw: Construction material, municipality vats, illegal garages, shanties and taxi and auto stands encroach upon the 60ft-wide road, leaving little room for traffic. Three bus terminuses (routes 45, 223 and 30B/1) have come up at the Birati and BT College crossings, squeezing the road further. Taxi and mini-truck stands have mushroomed at the BT College, Michaelnagar and Bankra intersections. “The number of illegal roadside garages has increased over the past few years,” says Goutam Nandy of Birati.

Cops say: “We have informed Madhyamgram municipality to remove the vats and take action against shops and vehicle owners,” says a senior traffic officer of Bidhannagar police.

What cops can do: Book offenders for illegal, tow away vehicles, seize licence and issue challans of up to Rs 200.

Dark disaster

We saw: A 1km stretch between Bankra and Birati has no street light and the one leading to the BT College crossing is poorly lit. Near Birati, there are poles without the lights and accessories. The trident lights don’t function either. Many are either broken or stolen, say residents. There are no road dividers between Birati and BT College, making the stretch particularly unsafe at night while sharp bends — like the one near a popular dhaba — up the danger level.

Cops say: “We have informed the municipal and the PWD authorities. We have provided our men with reflector jackets for their safety,” says deputy commissioner Subrata Bandopadhyay.