Keep Kolkata’s Roads Open, Safe, and Climate-Resilient (AN ONLINE MASS PETITION)

Posted on 27th September, 2025 (GMT 03:47 hrs)

ABSTRACT

Kolkata, one of the world’s most densely populated cities, faces a critical urban crisis as its weak road network—covering only 6–7% of city land—struggles under massive congestion from festivals, religious events, political rallies, and private gatherings. This gridlock endangers lives by delaying emergency services, escalates economic costs, worsens air pollution and climate impacts, and violates the constitutional right to free movement. Case studies, including Red Road, highlight the risks of relying on ad hoc permissions in high-security zones. The city urgently needs regulated alternatives for public events, strict enforcement of road-use laws, climate-conscious urban planning, and promotion of sustainable celebrations to balance cultural vibrancy with safety, accessibility, and environmental resilience. This petition is initiated by the Fridays For Future India chapter, supported by the Kolkata unit.

~সড়কবন্ধের ক্লস্ট্রোফোবিয়া~

অ্যাম্বুলেন্সটা আটকে গেলো। রাস্তা অবরোধ। আমি অ্যাম্বুলেন্সের ভেতরে ছটফট করছি। বুকে খুব ব্যাথা। শ্বাসকষ্ট হচ্ছে। অ্যাম্বুলেন্সের আওয়াজে কষ্ট হচ্ছে খুব। যেমন শীতের রাতে হয়– নিঝুম রাতে দূরাগত ওই শব্দটা শুনলে আঁতকে উঠি।আমি এই রাতে কোথায় পাবো অ্যাম্বুলেন্স? ঘুমটা ভাঙলে দেখি জবজবে ঘামে ভেজা বিছানা। অন্ধকারে চশমা হাতড়াই। খুঁজে পাচ্ছি না। লোকটা আমাকে শাসাচ্ছে। লোকটা মজুর ছিল। এখন সিন্ডিকেট করে। আমি প্রেসের গাড়ি থেকে নামতে কয়েক সেকেন্ড সময় নিয়েছিলুম। লোকটা শিবমন্দিরে বসে চা খাচ্ছিলো, “এই শ্লা, রাস্তাটা তোর ব্যক্তিগত সম্পত্তি নাকি?” হ্যাঁ, লোকটা “ব্যক্তিগত সম্পত্তি” পরিভাষাটাই ব্যবহার করেছিলো। আমি ওর দিকে এগিয়ে গিয়ে মৃদুস্বরে বলি, “এই মার্ক্সবাদী পরিভাষাটা আপনি জানেন?” লোকটা ত্বরিৎ উত্তর দেয়, “মার্ক্স কারোর বাপের সম্পত্তি নাকি?” হ্যাঁ ঠিকই তো, “মার্ক্স কারোর বাপের সম্পত্তি” নয়! আজকে ওনারাও স্লোগান দেন, আজকেও যেমন দিয়েছেন, “লড়াই, লড়াই লড়াই চাই, লড়াই করে বাঁচতে চাই।” অথবা দিয়ে ফেলেন “রক্তিম অভিনন্দন”, কিংবা রাস্তায় বাজে সলিল চৌধুরির গান।কেমন সব গুলিয়ে যাচ্ছে–সবার কথাবার্তাই একইরকম মনে হচ্ছে।রাস্তা বন্ধ করে যে মোড়সভা হচ্ছে, কারা করছে? তারা কোন পার্টির লোক? একই রকম লব্জ, একই জবানি! আমি আমার পাড়া চিনতে পারছি না–আমাকেও না।লোকটাকে বলি, রাস্তা আটকে পথসভা করছেন কেন? আমার যাতায়াতের পথ কোই? এমনিতেই ঘিঞ্জি জায়গায় থাকি…আমি লোকটাকে দেখাতে শুরু করি–এই দেখুন পুরো রাস্তা বন্ধ করে মা শেৎলা-রক্ষেকালি পুজো হচ্ছে–এদিক ওদিক কোনো যাবার জায়গা নেই! অনেককাল আগে একটা মাঠ ছিল এখানে–মন্ডপ এড়িয়ে যাওয়ার জায়গা ছিল। এখন অনেক বাড়ি। তিন ফুট গলিতে পাঁচতলা বাড়ি উঠে গেছে, দেখছেন তো? বিপদেআপদে, ভূমিকম্প বা অগ্নিকান্ডে, ওখান দিয়ে লোকজন বেরোবে কি করে? আচ্ছা, আপনি দামোদর কোশাম্বীর “At the Crossroads: Mother Goddess Cult-Sites in Ancient India” পড়েছেন? বৈদিক পুং -দেব্তাদের ঠ্যালায় দেবীরা সব রাস্তার ধারে, চারমাথার মোড়ে ঠাঁই পেয়েছিলেন মানে মার্জিনালাইজেড হয়েছিলেন, যদিচ সেই দেবীদের গায়ে বামনাই চিহ্ন লেগে গেছিলো। যে দেবী তিনশো বছর পরে পূজিতা হবেন, তাঁর বিশাল বিশাল কাট আউটগুলো এবার আমার ঘাড়ের ওপর পড়তে থাকে… রেড রোড বন্ধ করে মা দুগ্গার বিসর্জনের বিশাল কার্নিভাল চলছে, মন্ত্রীরা সব শপথ নিচ্ছেন, অথচ কলেজ স্ট্রিটে মিছিল বন্ধ। ওনাকে দেখাই, “এই দেখুন, আমার প্রেসের গাড়িটা ঠিক যেখানে তিরিশ সেকেন্ডের জন্য থেমেছিল, সেখানে সেই রাস্তার ওপর, হ্যাঁ ওই পুরো রাস্তা জুড়ে, বিশাল মণ্ডপ বানিয়ে বাবা লোকনাথের পুজো করছে রিয়েল এস্টেটের প্রোমোটার!

করবেন নাকি প্রতিবাদ? লোকটা আর কোনো কথা না বলে আমাকে ক্যালাতে শুরু করে… আমার দমবন্ধ হয়ে আসে, আসছে…আমি সড়ক খুঁজে পাচ্ছি না!

কলকাতার রাস্তাগুলোকে খোলা, নিরাপদ ও দূষণমুক্ত রাখতে এগিয়ে আসুন। আজই সই করুন এই আবেদনেঃ https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/keep-kolkatas-roads-open-safe-pollution-free?source=direct_link&

Kolkata delta, home to nearly 15 million people, suffers from one of the weakest road networks among global cities. Only 6–7% of city land is covered by roads, far below the WHO’s recommended 15–20%, 20% in Delhi, or 30% in many world cities. With a population density of 24,000 people per square kilometer, the strain on this limited infrastructure is extreme.

Blocking public roads for festivals, religious events, political rallies, or private functions is no longer a minor inconvenience—it has become a full-scale urban crisis, threatening lives, livelihoods, and the city’s fragile climate resilience.

The following petition, initiated by Akhar Bandyopadhyay (Environmental Activist, Content Writer and Newsletter Team Member, Fridays for Future International) Fridays For Future India and supported by Fridays For Future Kolkata, seeks to raise this urgent concern with local, regional, state, and national authorities, calling for immediate action to prevent road congestion that simultaneously threatens public health and the city’s climate resilience.

Add your voice! Help keep Kolkata’s roads open, safe, and pollution-free. Sign the petition today: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/keep-kolkatas-roads-open-safe-pollution-free?source=direct_link&

This document is the backbone explanatory text supporting our Fridays for Future (FFF) petition to curb road congestion in Kolkata and the rest of West Bengal. It provides the ecological, legal, health, and cultural context behind our collective demand for sustainable festivals and accountable governance.

Don’t Block, Don’t Choke — Let Kolkata Breathe!

Why This Matters

Economic Costs

Road closures delay commutes, disrupt businesses, and stall essential services.
During Durga Puja 2024, average vehicle idling due to pandal-induced congestion led to an estimated 50,000 liters of extra fuel consumption, increasing emissions.

Emergency Risks

Ambulances, fire trucks, and disaster-relief teams are routinely trapped in gridlock. Even 5–10 minutes of delay can be fatal.
Human stories: Children, elderly patients, and laborers dependent on timely transport face disproportionate risks during festival-related congestion.

Climate Impacts

Vehicles stuck in traffic release enormous amounts of CO₂, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
Temporary festival lighting and structures intensify the urban heat island effect.
Noise pollution from prolonged honking and loudspeakers affects vulnerable populations and animals.

Kolkata was named India’s most congested city in 2024, with commuters losing an average of 130 hours annually in traffic jams, highlighting the severity of the problem.

Festivals and Political Events

Kolkata is renowned for its cultural vibrancy, hosting Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Rath Yatra, Ram Navami, Muharram, Christmas fairs, New Year celebrations, and political rallies.

Durga Puja, now recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, has evolved from modest community “Barowari” celebrations to state-corporate-sponsored spectacles, occupying major roads for weeks. Recent state changes extending the official Puja season have further increased urban disruption.

Other global cities—Tokyo, Singapore, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro—manage massive festivals without paralyzing traffic, using designated grounds, strict protocols, and digital engagement. Kolkata deserves the same balance.

One might argue that metro rails provide an alternative, but this overlooks the ground reality: metro systems are themselves pushed to breaking point during festivals. Overloaded trains, overcrowded stations, and inadequate last-mile access show that metro cannot absorb the displaced traffic if roads are blocked. Instead, both systems — roads and metro — must be managed in tandem. Safe, open roads are indispensable, even with a functioning metro. Moreover, it is to be noted that by choking one road, other channeled parallel roads are also effectively closed, thereby exacerbating the crisis of access.

Case Study 1: Red Road Idol Immersion Carnival

Red Road, a designated military-controlled avenue, illustrates a paradox in governance. While the Indian Army has occasionally granted permission for mass gatherings—most notably the West Bengal State Government-sponsored (using tax-payers’ money) Durga Puja Idol Immersion Carnival—these approvals are exceptional, not routine. Using a high-security zone for large-scale festivals or religious events conflicts with its primary defense purpose and highlights the risks of prioritizing spectacle over public safety, security, and emergency access.

Red Road lies in critical proximity to major emergency hubs:

SSKM Hospital – 3 km

Kolkata Fire Brigade HQ (Mirza Galib Street) – 1.7 km

Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Hospital – 4.2 km

Indian Navy Base (INS Netaji Subhas) – 3.4 km via Indira Gandhi Sarani

Shambhunath Pandit Hospital – 3.4 km

When Red Road is closed for mass gatherings—religious carnivals, prayers, or other events—these lifelines are effectively cut off, delaying ambulances, fire engines, and disaster-relief teams.

In 2025, the Indian Army initially denied permission for Eid-ul-Adha prayers, citing “military use” of the area. The Calcutta Khilafat Committee, which organizes the annual prayers, had applied as usual on May 10. The Army communicated its decision to both the Kolkata Police and the committee. After discussions, it adjusted its training schedule to accommodate the prayers, allowing the centuries-old tradition to continue at this historic venue.

This incident underscores the fragility of relying on ad hoc permissions in high-security, emergency-sensitive zones. We request the Indian Army to prohibit the Durga Puja Carnival as well as other large-scale religious gatherings on Red Road and similar military-controlled areas, irrespective of religion, to ensure emergency services remain unimpeded and public safety is not compromised.

Case Study 2: Kolkata’s ISKCON Rath Yatra

Another annual event takes place along Kolkata’s interconnected roads, where ISKCON’s Rath Yatra draws hundreds of devotees who spend hours on the streets. The celebration begins at the ISKCON Temple on Albert Road, with the holy chariot leading a long convoy, and proceeds along key streets including Hungerford Street, A.J.C. Bose Road, Sarat Bose Road, Hazra Road, S.P. Mukherjee Road, A.T.M. Road, Chowringhee Road, Exide Crossing, and J.L. Nehru Road, before concluding at the Brigade Parade Ground. Participants often incur significant time and expenses, reflecting the scale of this procession. The event also causes massive road blockages or choking across central Kolkata, highlighting the challenges of managing such a large-scale urban festival.

The following video provides a detailed documentation of this event, along with other case studies from various parts of the Kolkata Metropolitan Region:

Law and Governance

Constitution (Article 19) guarantees the right to free movement, which cannot be sacrificed for celebrations.
Supreme Court rulings (Himmat Lal v. Commissioner of Police, 1973) affirm that festivals and protests cannot obstruct public convenience.
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 obliges authorities to reduce pollution, not exacerbate it.

We propose the creation of a Festival & Public Event Regulation Authority (FPERA) to assess locations, crowd sizes, and environmental impacts before granting permissions.

Our Demands

We call on city, state, and national authorities—including the Kolkata Police, West Bengal Government, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, and India’s urban and environmental ministries—to:

Ensure Public Safety: Guarantee uninterrupted emergency access for ambulances, fire services, and disaster-relief vehicles at all times.
Regulate Road Use: Ban blocking public roads for festivals, rallies, or private events and impose strict penalties on organizers or officials who violate road-use regulations.
Provide Alternatives: Designate alternative venues such as stadiums, open grounds, or community halls, and support decentralized community hubs to reduce crowding.
Promote Climate-Conscious Urban Planning: Mandate urban planning that minimizes congestion-related emissions and integrates sustainable mobility solutions.
Prevent Encroachments: Halt unauthorized constructions or activities that narrow or obstruct public roads.
Encourage Sustainable Celebrations: Promote eco-friendly materials, and support digital/AR/VR streaming of central events to reduce crowd density while preserving cultural vibrancy.

A Call for Responsible Celebration

Kolkata cannot afford to sacrifice its fragile road network, public health, or climate future for short-term spectacles. Festivals, prayers, and protests must continue—but responsibly, without paralyzing the city.

Many cities around the world have shown that it is possible to celebrate culture safely and sustainably. Kolkata along with its neighbouring regions must do the same.

This is not merely a Kolkata issue. It concerns every city in India, every town and village on the road to urbanization, facing similar pressures on roads, public spaces, and the environment.

Add your voice. Sign the petition to keep Kolkata’s roads open, safe, and climate-resilient—and help set a global precedent for responsible urban governance.

Kolkata à la croisée des chemins: Renforcer la résilience face aux crises (French Version) VIEW HERE ⤡

References

Kolkata has a total road network of 1,850 km within the city proper and 4,018 km in the metropolitan area. The city has the highest vehicular density among Indian metros, with 2,448 vehicles per kilometer of road. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata
The city has a very high population density of 24,000 people per square kilometer, one of the world’s highest. Available at: https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/india/kolkata
In 2024, Kolkata became India’s most congested city, surpassing Bengaluru, with an average speed of 17.4 km/h. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/news/kolkata-is-now-indias-most-congested-city-surpasses-bengaluru-to-top-the-chart/articleshow/117197282.cms
The average travel time to cover 10 kilometers has increased to 34 minutes, leading to a congestion level of 32% and commuters losing 130 hours annually during rush hours. Available at: https://www.telegraphindia.com/gallery/calcutta-overtakes-bengaluru-to-become-indias-most-traffic-congested-city-in-2024-report-photogallery/cid/2077099
Kolkata’s air quality index (AQI) often fluctuates between 195 and 271, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category. Available at: https://india.mongabay.com/2024/06/kolkatas-overlooked-air-pollution-crisis/
A study presented to the National Green Tribunal found that 1 in 28 vehicles in the city are polluting, with older diesel and petrol vehicles contributing significantly. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/1-in-28-vehicles-in-city-polluting-finds-remote-profile-map-study/articleshow/90328714.cms
Kolkata is vulnerable to increased precipitation and other climate risks, as highlighted in a World Bank study. Available at: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/160411468269379264/india-vulnerability-of-kolkata-metropolitan-area-to-increased-precipitation-in-a-changing-climate
Blocking roads for festivals and events violates the fundamental right to free movement under Article 19(1)(d) of the Indian Constitution. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkata
The Indian Army granted permission for Eid-uz-Zoha prayers on Red Road after adjusting its training schedule, highlighting the need for careful consideration of road usage for public events. Available at: https://www.bhaskarenglish.in/local/west-bengal/kolkata/news/army-grants-permission-eid-uz-zoha-prayer-red-road-calcutta-khilafat-committee-to-offer-prayers-june-7-135152668.html

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