Kolkata is bracing for a massive political showdown as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a mega rally at the historic Brigade Parade Ground on Saturday, March 14. With an expected turnout of lakhs of supporters, the Kolkata Traffic Police have implemented stringent traffic controls and diversions across all major arterial roads in the city to ensure security and smooth movement of rallies.

Traffic Restrictions and Diversions: From the early hours of Saturday, key stretches such as Central Avenue, Strand Road, Jawaharlal Nehru (JL) Road, and AJC Bose Road will witness significant restrictions. Authorities have indicated that Red Road, Kidderpore Road, and the area around Hastings will be virtually off-limits for general commuters as they will be utilized for rally bus parking and pedestrian movement toward the venue.

Advisory for Commuters: * Railway Station and Airport Connectivity: Passengers traveling to Howrah or Sealdah stations are urged to leave at least two hours in advance. Using the EM Bypass or outskirts routes is highly recommended to avoid the gridlock in Central Kolkata.

• Goods Vehicles: Heavy trucks and commercial vehicles will be diverted from entering city limits from Friday midnight until the conclusion of the event.
• Security Cordon: A multi-tier security blanket has been thrown over the city, with thousands of police personnel deployed. The use of drones has been strictly prohibited in the vicinity of the Brigade Parade Ground.

The city administration expects heavy congestion throughout the afternoon as supporters from various districts pour into the city. Regular commuters are advised to monitor real-time traffic updates on social media handles of the Kolkata Police before embarking on their journey.