Where to park car, roads to avoid: Kolkata Police deploy 2,500 personnel, announce traffic curbs for Christmas, New Year

As part of the security grid, four watchtowers have been erected at key intersections, including J L Nehru Road and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road. Drones will be used for real-time crowd monitoring, while all-women ‘Winners’ and ‘Shakti’ teams will patrol the area on two-wheelers to prevent harassment. Plainclothes detectives and Special Branch officers will be embedded in the crowd to identify pickpockets.

Security arrangements extend beyond Park Street, with intensive patrolling and naka checks planned at other popular locations such as St Paul’s Cathedral and Alipore Zoo. Additional police contingents will be deployed in Kasba, Patuli and Lake Town to manage local carnivals and restaurant crowds. The Fire and Emergency Services department has stationed nine fire tenders at strategic points, including Bow Barracks and Allen Park.

In a significant move, the state government has cancelled all leave for police personnel across ranks till January 20, 2025, ensuring the availability of specialised units such as the RAF and Gorkha Battalion during the festive period.

Traffic restrictions and diversions

According to official traffic notifications, movement of all goods vehicles will be restricted in the Park Street and Maidan areas from 4 pm on December 24 to 4 am on December 25, and again from 4 pm on Christmas Day until clearance is given on December 26. These vehicles will be diverted via AJC Bose Road, St George’s Gate Road and Strand Road.

On Christmas Eve, roads such as Park Street, Camac Street, Theatre Road and Shakespeare Sarani will not allow two-way traffic till 2 am on December 25. Cathedral Road will remain closed, while Queensway will function as a one-way stretch from east to west.

On Christmas Day, Park Street (from J L Nehru Road to Wood Street) and Middleton Street will be closed to general traffic. Russel Street and Little Russel Street will be designated no-entry zones. Eastbound traffic will be allowed on Ho Chi Minh Sarani, while two-way movement will be permitted on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road and Camac Street between Ho Chi Minh Sarani and Short Street.

Strict no-parking zones will be enforced on Park Street, Middleton Street, Short Street, Wood Street, Ho Chi Minh Sarani, and parts of Camac Street, Free School Street and Elliot Road. Auto-rickshaws will be diverted via Free School Street, Marquis Street and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road. From December 26 to December 30, two-way traffic on Park Street and Shakespeare Sarani will be permitted only at the discretion of traffic police.

Eco Park advisory

For visitors heading to Eco Park, those arriving from the city side are advised to use Gates 1 and 2, with parking available inside Gate 1. Visitors from the airport side should use Gates 4, 5 and 6, with a drop-off near Gate 5 and single-row parking between Gates 5 and 6. Two-wheelers have a designated parking area inside Gate 3. The service road between Gate 1 and Gate 4 will remain closed to all vehicles, while special government buses will operate from Gate 1 and Sector V Metro station.