Kolkata: Responding to multiple complaints from motorists, Kolkata Police has initiated a major overhaul of the worn out and poorly-painted guard rails in the city. Lalbazar has identified 4,000 guard rails that need standardisation. Such guard rails have to be fitted with retro-reflective tapes so that they become visible even from a distance during night time.Motorists have registered complaints regarding the damaged guard rails with police as well as the state administration over the years.According to Kolkata Police, rust will be removed from the eroded guard rails before the application of a fresh coat of yellow paint. Retro-reflective tape and the Kolkata Police logo will be pasted on both sides of each guard rail. The steel-made guard rails with four floor legs will be set at a 105° angle, maintaining 25 cm height from the road surface. Each leg must be fitted with a solid steel wheel to ensure durability and mobility.Kolkata Traffic Police acknowledges that the guard rails have been causing trouble to night drivers. However, the cops defend these as an essential piece of “road furniture” needed to curb high-speed driving and traffic signal violations, especially due to lack of driver-friendly alternatives like rumble strips, speed tables, chicanes, or traffic circles.Senior traffic officers outlined three primary reasons to barricade using guard rails: reducing vehicle speed on multi-lane roads when night traffic drops, warning drivers about bad stretches or accident-prone zones, and alerting motorists at the intersections. Police surveys revealed a sharp rise in traffic signal violations during late-night hours. Planning wing officers highlighted night-time fatal accidents have steadily declined since 2021, giving credit to the increased use of barricades. There are currently no standardised rules or fixed timings for putting up guard rails.
