Kolkata: R G Kar urges cops to clear way for patients stuck in Tallah jam

Kolkata: R G Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities have urged the Kolkata Police to plan an alternative route for ambulances that get stuck in traffic jams on Khudiram Basu Sarani leading to the hospital. The hospital authorities have planned to open a few more gates to facilitate the movement of ambulances at a time when the area faces major jams owing to restrictions on Tallah Bridge .

In the security audit meeting held with security officers from Lalbazar and Swasthya Bhawan on last Tuesday, the hospital authorities raised the “extremely important” issue.

“As nodal officers, our men have received feedbacks from the hospital. It has been relayed to Lalbazar,” said an IPS officer present in the meeting.

Since the traffic restrictions were imposed for Tallah Bridge, Shyambazar-bound vehicles are plying mainly on Khudiram Basu Sarani, causing traffic snarls. The stretch between Milk Colony and the hospital turned into a traffic gridlock, throwing up challenges to the movement of ambulances. Earlier, it was a five-minute drive from Milk Colony to the hospital. But now, people have to wait nearly 30 minutes to reach the hospital gates from there. “It is equally difficult when one tries to go out of the hospital,” said Naihati resident Sankalan Ghosh.

Ghosh had taken his father, Souvik to the hospital, from where he had to take the patient to a nursing home on B T Road. “I was stuck in snarls while coming to the hospital. Again I got stuck on B T Road for 20 minutes,” said Ghosh.

Suddhodhan Batabyal, principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, said, “We have approached the traffic police to make possible alternative routes for the ambulances. We are planning to open the gate towards the Sarkar Bagan side to facilitate the movement of ambulances.”

According to police, ambulances coming from B T Road will have to take Nilmoni Mitra Row to reach R G Kar Hospital . The hospital has asked for additional security guards to man the new gates.

While traffic movement on Thursday was comparatively better than the last two days, police said sometimes it becomes difficult for them to make way for ambulances amidst the traffic snarls. “Ambulance is the top most priority for us. We have instructed our men on duty to make immediate passage for the vehicles carrying patients . But at times they get stuck behind long queues of vehicles,” said an officer of Kolkata Traffic Police.

Sergeants said that even if a bus stops at the designated stop for a minute, the choc-a-block traffic leads to loss of time. “The plan is to keep a mobile sergeant who would coordinate with those on ground to see if alternate routes can be used to ensure a smoother ride for ambulances,” said an officer at Lalbazar.