Encroachers steps after polls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 2 JUNE: Transportation has been paralysed and suffocated due to the encroachments of roads and crossings, and lack of a proper traffic management system in English Bazaar town.

After receiving complaints from various corners, the chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality Mr N Tiwari sought the help of the district magistrate and urged him to take action to ease traffic congestion.

“Traffic congestion is a regular feature of Malda town. It is really horrible and creates suffocating conditions. We have planned to hold a meeting with civic body and political leaders - including the English Bazaar MLA who objected to the present traffic management system which was introduced last year,” said Mr Sridhar Ghosh, the Malda DM.

“We do not want to take action against the encroachers before the by-poll of ward no 11 in English Bazaar Municipality. But after the end of the by-poll we must take action against the encroachers and introduce a new system of traffic management,” Mr. Ghosh said.

“The problem of traffic congestion will be increased day by day if we cannot shift the present two bus stands from the heart of English Bazaar town,” said Ms Sumala Agarwala, Trinamul Congress councillor of English Bazaar Municipality.

Though it was decided that two bus stands including the private one would be shifted to the Central bus terminus, the construction of the Central bus terminus is under suspension due to unknown reasons,” she added.

“Owing to political pressure, we cannot evict unauthorised encroachments, where auto-rickshaws, maxi-taxi and matador unions have set up stands on either side of the NH 34 from the NCC office close to Malda College to Sukanta More,” Ms Agarwala said.

There is a similar problem on Station road and on another state highway from Rathbari rail gate to Ghorapir truck stand, where footpaths have already been grabbed, narrowing the space for the main roads. Due to unauthorised vehicle stands, people are suffering a lot across the town,” Ms Agarwala added.

Local residents say that if the administration does not take action there would be another encroachment on any road crossing once the second bridge of Mahananda is inaugurated within the town.

The English Bazaar Municipality has found that people suffer traffic congestion from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. every working day at Foara More in front of the Head Post Office and Chittaranjan Market, Rathbari on NH 34, junction of Station road connecting NH 34. During school and office times, people face horrible situations on Ravindra Avenue, KJ Sanyal Road, BG Road, NS Road and BS road.

People face difficulties on Ravindra Avenue, formerly called Rajmahal Road, where the main road is divided into two ways for the Rathbari Flyover on the eastern side. The narrow roads are gradually becoming congested due to unauthorised encroachments on the basement of the flyover.