Agartala, September 25: The Agartala Traffic Police will enforce tighter traffic regulations during Durga Puja, including no-entry restrictions from 5 pm to 1 am, while applicants with pending traffic challans will not be eligible for Puja passes.
Traffic SP Kanta Jangir announced the measures at a press conference at Traffic Bhavan in the AD Nagar police line on Friday, saying the arrangements were aimed at managing the expected increase in vehicular and pedestrian movement during the festival.
She said special attention would be given to areas prone to congestion, particularly Nagerjala Bridge, City Centre and Orient Chowmuhani. Traffic arrangements at these locations will be adjusted depending on the volume of vehicles and the prevailing situation.
The Traffic Police will also step up enforcement against unauthorised parking in busy market areas, violations of one-way and no-entry rules and prolonged parking of heavy vehicles along roads.
Jangir said discussions had already been held with traders, market committees and residents of Maharajganj Bazar to identify factors behind traffic congestion and work out measures to improve movement in the area.
Calling for public cooperation, the Traffic SP urged motorists to obey traffic rules and use designated parking spaces. She said traffic personnel would maintain enhanced surveillance and coordination at important points throughout the Puja period.
The department has adopted stricter norms for issuing Puja passes following concerns over their alleged misuse in earlier years. Jangir said applicants with outstanding challans would not be issued passes, citing directions from Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha.
A digital mechanism for issuing Puja passes is also being worked out in consultation with the Directorate of Information Technology (DIT). The system is expected to streamline applications and minimise complications in the process.
Jangir also explained the arrangements for settling traffic challans. Challans issued before April 2026 can be paid through the e-Challan portal, Virtual Court or the physical court.
Those issued after April 2026, however, will have to be settled through the Traffic Unit and will not be referred to court, she said.
The Traffic Police has additionally begun preparations for introducing the Next-Gen Challan system.
Jangir appealed to residents, traders, transport operators and other stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities and follow the temporary traffic measures to ensure safer and smoother movement across Agartala during Durga Puja.
