Content curated
by Ranabir Bhattacharyya
The South Traffic Guard caters to a very vital area of Kolkata under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Police. It maintains constant liaison with the Headquarters Traffic Guard. Along with that, it is constantly in touch with the Sealdah Traffic Guard in the North; Park Circus and East Traffic Guard in the East; Bhowanipore Traffic Guard in the South and Vidyasagar Traffic Guard in the West for running day-to-day traffic and the seamless movement of vehicles.
The South Traffic Guard has been operating from its present location since 1991. Previously it used to operate from where the present South East Traffic Guard is located. Covering an estimated area of 4.02 sq km, it encompasses several historical landmarks such as the Victoria Memorial Hall, the Sahid Minar, the Asiatic Society, and the Indian Museum. The jurisdiction of the South Traffic Guard includes over ten educational institutions, multiple hospitals, and private nursing homes. With four wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the population density is notably high, encompassing both residential and office areas. The area is also characterised by multiple market complexes, cinema halls, theatres, art galleries, and places of worship, resulting in a consistently high volume of vehicular movement. The South Traffic Guard operates closely with several police stations, including Hastings, Maidan, Park Street, Shakespeare Sarani, Hare Street, and New Market, all falling within its geographical coverage.
Under the supervision of the Kolkata Traffic Police management, the South Traffic Guard has taken multiple steps to reduce road accidents and ease traffic congestion. Based on the road traffic statistics, accident-prone roads and black spots have been identified. To reduce traffic congestion and fatal accidents, the South Traffic Guard has taken various developmental steps. First and foremost, cutouts along the busy Jawaharlal Nehru Road have been reviewed regarding crossover. Go slow guard rails with high-quality reflectors at respective crossings have been placed to ensure pedestrian movement and reduction of vehicular traffic. Drop gates have been installed at Exide Crossing and Birla Planetarium Crossing for smooth pedestrian crossover. Additionally, RLVD (Red Light Violation Detection) Cameras with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras have been installed at various strategic crossings under the South Traffic Guard. Speed indicator boards have been duly installed at multiple areas to create awareness among the citizens to stop incidents of overspeeding and rash driving. Speed limits have been duly notified for AJC Bose Road Flyover and the Park Street Flyovers to avoid any sort of mishaps.
Nilesh Choudhury, Officer-In-Charge, South Traffic Guard, remarked, “Our team at South Traffic Guard is dedicated to managing road traffic day and night, in the best interests of the citizens. Over the years, the volume of vehicles has significantly increased. Being a veteran in the traffic police fraternity under the Kolkata Traffic Police, we are presently using sophisticated technical gadgets for traffic management, including AI and body cameras. We conduct year-long activities and community engagement programmes to raise awareness. The ‘Safe Drive, Save Life’ campaign has been extremely instrumental in this regard. As a team, we make it a point to focus on prosecution and enforcement to ensure road safety.”
A very competent and diligent officer with many decades of experience, Nilesh Choudhury has been a stalwart in traffic policing in Kolkata Police. He has closely seen the evolution in traffic policing. In his own words,”To be a traffic police personnel is not easy. The demands of the job are hectic. But make no mistake, the job satisfaction is immense. I am proud to be an integral part of the growth of the city. We work in a closely-knitted team where the feedback of all the officers is given maximum importance. Furthermore, close coordination with all the stakeholders of the traffic ecosystem enables prior planning in traffic policing.”
Nilesh Choudhury started his policing career with the Headquarter Traffic Guard before serving in multiple capacities at the Vidyasagar Traffic Guard, Howrah Bridge Traffic Guard, Kasba Traffic Guard, and East Traffic Guard. “I am almost on the verge of completing three decades in the Kolkata Traffic Police. There are many unforgettable incidents. After the Majherhat Bridge collapse incident, the way the entire police force came together and mobilised the rescue operation remains a classical example of how our Force has excelled in all situations. We are always ready for all scenarios. The high level of preparedness makes the Kolkata Police the best one in the country,” signs off Officer-In-Charge Nilesh Choudhury, with his usual determination and spirit.
It is indeed a mammoth task for the South Traffic Guard to monitor and supervise the numerous vital installations and VVIP movement throughout the day. However, with a dedicated team comprising Inspectors, Sergeants, Assistant Sub Inspectors, Constables, Home Guards and Civic Volunteers under the leadership of the Officer-in-Charge, the South Traffic Guard has earned laurels across various quarters for its smooth functioning. We wish them all the very best in all their future endeavours in serving the citizens at large.
