Cops to relocate long-distance bus kiosks to unclog airport corridor

Kolkata: The Bidhannagar Police commissionerate has decided to relocate multiple long-distance bus counters and pick-up points from Jessore Road to a vacant plot along VIP Road to unclog the traffic-prone airport corridor.The counters are currently located between Airport Gate No. 1 and 2 on Jessore Road. Apart from ticketing, the kiosks also serve as boarding points for North Bengal-bound buses that originate from Esplanade, Salt Lake and Garia.
Cops said the arrangement routinely chokes traffic during evening peak hours, particularly between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm. Large buses waiting to pick up passengers occupy significant carriageway space, triggering bottlenecks not only on Jessore Road but also spilling over to VIP Road. The congestion slows down airport-bound vehicles from Ultadanga and the adjoining areas.To address the issue, the authorities have identified an empty plot along VIP Road, around 100 metres before the Airport Gate 1 crossing and opposite the airport entry road. The new site is adjacent to a wide service lane, which will allow buses to move off the main thoroughfare while waiting for passengers."The new location will enable us to divert buses to the service road beside the vacant land. That way, even if they halt for a few minutes, the main carriageway will remain clear, easing congestion significantly," a senior officer of the commissionerate said.On Monday, Bidhannagar commissioner Murli Dhar inspected the proposed site and finalised the relocation plan. Officials indicated that the shifting process is likely to be completed by next week.The decision has drawn support from daily commuters, many of whom have been complaining about chronic snarls along the stretch. Rajat Chakraborty, a Birati resident who drives along Jessore Road and VIP Road regularly, described the evening rush as "painstaking". "Vehicles crawl between Haldiram's crossing and Airport Gate 1. Even after crossing Gate 1, traffic remains heavy till the Belghoria Expressway crossing. Once the large buses are moved off the main road, traffic flow should improve noticeably," he said.The move also comes against the backdrop of recurring criticism regarding access to the city airport. In passenger feedback surveys, the airport often scored poorly on the "ease of access" parameter, largely due to congestion outside its gates. In the 2025 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey conducted by the Airports Council International (ACI), the travellers reported that reaching the airport took longer in 2025 compared to the previous year.A senior official at the Kolkata airport welcomed the development. "We support all constructive changes in traffic planning that benefit passengers and make their journey to and from the airport smoother," the official said.