The foundation of Kolkata’s Traffic Police system was laid in 1827-28, when the city’s palanquin bearers went on strike and an innovative Englishman called Brownlow came up with the idea of attaching four wheels to a box and making a horse pull it, creating Kolkata’s first wheeled vehicles.

Today, the Traffic Department functions under a Joint Commissioner who is assisted by another four DCs (DCTP-I, DCTP-South, DCTP-II and DCTP-III). Its primary duty is to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the city. The Traffic Control Room functions round the clock to coordinate the fieldwork of the 25 Traffic Guards which actually implement the policing with regard to traffic in the city. The Traffic Control Room is responsible for traffic arrangements for special occasions as well as piloting. 

The Fatal Squad of this unit investigates cases of serious street accidents involving deaths. Road safety programmes are also organised by the Traffic Department. The Traffic Training School imparts training to traffic police personnel regarding traffic control and regulations, and traffic signalling. 

Details regarding the Traffic Department are available at kolkatatrafficpolice.gov.in