Kolkata’s Red Road closed for 7 days for Yoga Day; government order challenged in HC, hearing to be held

Calcutta High Court – Photo: Internet

A government order banning vehicular movement for seven days on Kolkata’s famous Red Road—to facilitate preparations for International Yoga Day—has been challenged in the Calcutta High Court. The court has admitted the matter and granted permission for an immediate hearing.

The Calcutta High Court has admitted a petition challenging the government’s order to suspend vehicular movement on Kolkata’s Red Road for seven days on the occasion of International Yoga Day.

Advocate Shamim Ahmed raised the matter before Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya (Court-5). Justice Bhattacharyya granted permission to hear the petition, which was filed by the All India Lawyers Association. The court will conduct a detailed hearing on the matter tomorrow (Thursday).

The West Bengal government had issued an order banning vehicular traffic on Red Road for seven days in preparation for the International Yoga Day event (June 21). The All India Lawyers Association approached the High Court to challenge this order, arguing that the seven-day traffic ban is unreasonable.

Additionally, starting from the morning of Yoga Day, dozens of roads—including Hospital Road, Lovers Lane, Casuarina Avenue, Kingsway, Queensway, Dufferin Road, Outram Road, and Esplanade Ramp—will be closed. To minimize inconvenience to commuters during this period, vehicles approaching Red Road from the north will be diverted at JN Island towards the Outram Road-JL Nehru Road or Dufferin Road-Mayo Road routes.

PM Modi to Participate

This year, India’s main event for International Yoga Day will be held in Kolkata, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav shared this information on Monday.

The theme for this year is ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging’—that is, using yoga to ensure a healthy old age. As people age, yoga helps keep them physically and mentally fit. With people across the world living longer, it is essential that these years are healthy, active, and happy; this is the objective of the theme.