Traffic in parts of central Kolkata was disrupted on Monday afternoon because a group of ICDS (Integrated Child Development Service) employees stationed themselves at the Chowringhee crossing, blocking traffic in both directions on the arterial thoroughfare.
Women — mostly ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers — sat on the road and shouted slogans with their charter of demands. They want a hike in salary, a fixed salary, assured casual leave and maternity leave.
Motorists and pedestrians in central Kolkata were inconvenienced as police diverted traffic to manage the snarls created because of the protest in the heart of the city.
Traffic on Central Avenue, BB Ganguly Street, Chowringhee Road and Lenin Sarani was most affected. The disruption was worst between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
A professional traveling from her Girish Park home to her office in Chandni Chowk was forced to get off at the Ganesh Chandra Avenue intersection and walk the last mile to work. Her vehicle
was not allowed any further south from the crossing and was diverted through Ganesh Chandra Avenue.
Many Kolkatans said they either got late for their appointments or had to walk the last 1-2km to reach their destinations.
“We diverted vehicles off central Kolkata to keep the city’s traffic moving.
Traffic was heavy on BB Ganguly Street, Chowringhee Road, Lenin Sarani and
Central Avenue,” said a senior officer of the traffic department.
Another officer said the timing of the rally did not affect the city’s office traffic on the first working day of the week. However, several students returning home from school were stuck in snarls and reached home much later than usual.
