kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, June 18: The International Yoga Day on June 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kolkata for a high-profile event. However, the Kolkata High Court has raised significant questions over the administration’s decision to completely close one of the city’s main arteries, Red Road, for seven consecutive days to accommodate the event. During Thursday’s hearing, the court asked why the Yoga Day program could not have been held at the Brigade Parade Ground instead, thereby avoiding extreme inconvenience to city residents. Despite raising these concerns, the High Court declined to issue any interim stay on the government’s road closure order.

The administration had announced that from June 14 to June 21, all vehicular and pedestrian movement on Red Road would be fully prohibited in connection with the International Yoga Day event. A lawyer organization had approached the High Court on Wednesday, arguing that such an extended closure was causing severe traffic congestion in central Kolkata.

The hearing, Additional Advocate General (AAG) Bilbodol Bhattacharya argued, “On International Yoga Day, India will lead the world from Kolkata this year.” In response, Justice Sougata Bhattacharya remarked, “If the event had been held at the Brigade Parade Ground, would its significance have been any less? At least city residents could have used the road.”

Monday, one lane of Red Road had been blocked, and from Tuesday onwards, the road was fully sealed. This has caused severe traffic jams across major routes including Mayo Road, Outram Road, Chowringhee, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Strand Road, and Dufferin Road, disrupting daily commuters across Kolkata.

The High Court instructed the police administration to immediately arrange alternative traffic management to ensure smooth movement for residents. The court also emphasized that Red Road must be fully reopened for public use immediately after the June 21 event concludes, without any delay.