Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Three-Day Red Road Closure Disrupts Traffic Across Calcutta
Red Road in Calcutta has been mostly closed for several days because of a Mahalaya event.
This has sent more cars onto other roads.
Those roads were already busy because people were shopping for Puja and some pandals made streets narrower.
Rain also made traffic move more slowly.
As a result, some people took much longer than usual to reach their destinations.
Traffic police said they had made diversions and were trying to keep vehicles moving.
Red Road has been largely closed since October 6, with intermittent traffic allowed on one flank; restrictions are expected to continue until Sunday.
The closure is linked to a Mahalaya event lasting a little over three hours.
Diversions have increased pressure on roads connecting central business areas with south Calcutta, including Mayo Road, Dufferin Road, Outram Road and R.R. Avenue.
Rain, Puja shopping crowds and pandals narrowing some roads added to congestion around New Market, Gariahat and elsewhere.
Slow traffic was also reported on EM Bypass and the Parama flyover, while commuters described journeys lasting hours.
- Who
- Commuters and road users in Calcutta; traffic police are managing diversions.
- What
- A largely closed Red Road and resulting diversions have caused widespread traffic disruption.
- When
- The closure began October 6 and is expected to continue until Sunday; congestion was reported on Wednesday and Thursday.
- Where
- Red Road and other routes across Calcutta, including central and south Calcutta, EM Bypass and the Parama flyover.
- Why
- Red Road was closed for a Mahalaya event; rain, Puja shopping crowds and pandals narrowing roads further worsened traffic.
Commuters
Traffic department
Managing disruption
Commuters
Commuters reported lengthy journeys and widespread congestion following the closure and diversions.
Traffic department
A traffic department officer said authorities had made necessary diversions and were trying their best to keep traffic moving.
- Closure began
- October 6
- Expected duration
- Restrictions expected to continue until Sunday
- Event
- Mahalaya event lasting a little over three hours
- Traffic access
- Traffic was intermittently allowed through one flank of Red Road
- Reported commute
- A Salt Lake-to-Dalhousie journey took three-and-a-half hours on Wednesday
- Other reported commute
- A Ballygunge resident said a roughly 6km trip to Dalhousie took more than an hour on Thursday
- Contributing factors
- Persistent rain, Puja shopping crowds and pandals narrowing roads