Kolkata will deploy portable variable message signs on the Maa flyover from Monday to warn motorists about congestion and vehicle breakdowns before they enter the elevated corridor, while Kolkata Police has doubled the number of median openings to speed up towing operations.
The real-time traffic displays will be placed at strategic approach points, including Circus Avenue, Gopal Mukherjee Road and EM Bypass. The signs will carry updates about traffic conditions ahead and advise motorists before they commit to the flyover.
Messages such as “Vehicle breakdown ahead” will appear when an incident is reported on the route, according to a traffic department officer. Once the obstruction has been cleared, the display will show “Road Clear”.
The intervention addresses a recurring operational problem on the flyover. Kolkata Police deputy commissioner (traffic) Sambhav Jain said car breakdowns were the primary reason for congestion on Maa. Because the elevated corridor has limited access points, a stranded vehicle can obstruct traffic until a tow truck reaches the location.
To reduce that response time, the police have increased the number of cuts in the median divider from three to six. Tow trucks will be able to approach a broken-down vehicle through the nearest opening instead of travelling to a more distant access point.
The new openings will not be available for regular motorists. Police said the cuts would be sealed with guard rails and used only for towing vehicles that have broken down. They will not be permitted for U-turns, an officer said.
The changes combine advance information for motorists with a quicker incident-response arrangement on the flyover. The variable message signs are intended to give drivers an opportunity to assess the traffic situation before entering, while the additional median openings are intended to reduce the time required to remove disabled vehicles from the carriageway.
Maa flyover is an important elevated connection for traffic moving between central and eastern parts of Kolkata, including routes linked to the city’s major arterial roads. A vehicle stoppage on the corridor can affect traffic approaching from multiple directions, making incident clearance a critical part of day-to-day traffic management.
The traffic department is scheduled to begin operating the portable displays from Monday. Kolkata Police’s stated restriction on the median openings means their use will remain limited to towing operations and will be controlled by traffic personnel.