Behala - Modern Day Behala

Modern Day Behala

Today, Behala encompasses one of the largest suburban agglomerations of the city of Kolkata. Huge growth of population especially since the early eighties resulted in the area being on the radar of both the daily wage earners, common populace and educated classes. Due to this enormous and unplanned growth, the traffic is by and large dependent on the arterial Diamond Harbour Road, in spite of the availability of the parallel James Long Sarani (Commonly known as Rail Line) as an option. During the construction the Taratala fly-over, a large portion of traffic flowed through James Long Sarani to avoid construction activity, causing development of other areas of Behala.

Due to lack of planning and space, encroachments by street-hawkers of the sidewalks on both sides of the busy Diamond Harbour Road, push the pedestrians to the already busy road. Areas like Behala Tram Depot, Behala Chowrasta and Behala Sakher Bazar have been added to the 'Calcutta Green Zone' and traffic moves at a snail's pace during the peak office hours. A tramline runs up the centre of Diamond Harbour Road from Joka to Behala Tram Depot and often the people moved faster in the trams. Previously it was well connected by tram lines towards the north. However the trams were stopped when the flyover at the Taratala junction was constructed.The trams are no more found in Behala due to the construction of the Metro Railway which will run from Joka to Majherhat.