Durga Puja 2017: Kolkata Police to provide real-time traffic update for major pandals through mobile app

This puja, pandal-hoppers will be able to gauge the rush and time required to reach the top 20 puja pandals in the city.

"We will offer an estimated time of arrival (ETA) from the last person in the queue to the pandals of 20 major pujas in the city," Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner of Police (establishment) Sujay Chanda told PTI. The social festival app offered jointly by Kolkata Police and UtsavApp will offer real-time ETA for pandal-hoppers this puja, Chanda said. Based on the real-time calculations, the app will allow flexibility to a pandal-hopper to decide whether to stand in the queue or try another pandal, he said.

UtsavApp said it will be covering all 350 major pujas in Kolkata and Salt Lake. Users can find a guide map to each and every puja with a detailed storyline of each puja. They can even rate and review the pujas. One can upload photos related to the puja and by using UtsavApp an user can check-in and share their status on Facebook. This year, UtsavApp will also have some new and exciting features like users can check the nearest pay and use toilets, police stations, hospitals and even restaurants.

One can get turn by turn navigation to these destinations as the app links them with an online map. The app incorporates 'Chat and Adda' feature through which users can find new friends and even chat with them. With a huge surge in smartphones, UtsavApp officials feel the number of downloads will jump manifold.