A major change is set to take place at the entrance to Digha, one of West Bengal’s most popular tourist destinations. The ‘Biswa Bangla’ logo installed on top of the iconic Digha entrance gate will now be removed. To facilitate the removal work, traffic movement on National Highway 116 will be regulated for a few hours on September 14 and 15, Monday and Tuesday.
The Digha-Shankarpur Development Authority issued a notification on Sunday announcing the traffic restrictions. According to the administration, vehicles will be diverted between midnight and 3 am on both days so that the work can be carried out without causing inconvenience to tourists and local residents.
The authorities have decided to carry out the work during the late-night hours to avoid disrupting daytime traffic, particularly during the busy tourist hours. The logo removal operation is scheduled to take place from 12 midnight to 3 am on both Monday and Tuesday.
Digha-Shankarpur Development Authority CEO Dhumalpratik Ashok said that the agency responsible for the work had been instructed to carry out the operation at night so that passengers and tourists do not face unnecessary inconvenience.
According to the traffic plan, vehicles travelling along the affected stretch of National Highway 116 will be diverted near the petrol pump located in front of the Digha gate. Vehicles will be guided through an alternative route during the three-hour period each night.
The administration has chosen this arrangement instead of completely shutting down the road. As a result, vehicles will continue to move, although through a diverted route, while the work is underway.
Digha attracts a large number of tourists throughout the year. The number of visitors increases significantly during weekends, holidays and festive periods. Any major traffic restriction during the daytime could therefore cause considerable inconvenience to tourists and local residents.
Keeping this in mind, the authorities have decided to conduct the logo removal operation during the early hours of the morning. Once the work is completed each night, normal traffic movement is expected to resume.
The decision to remove the ‘Biswa Bangla’ logo is part of a wider change in the state’s branding policy following the change of government in West Bengal. The new government decided to discontinue the use of the ‘Biswa Bangla’ logo associated with the previous administration and introduce a new logo instead.
Following that decision, the ‘Biswa Bangla’ logo has already been removed from several locations across the state, including Kolkata. Various government structures and installations that previously carried the logo have undergone changes as part of the new branding policy.
Digha is now being added to that list. The logo installed on top of the main entrance gate will be removed as part of the ongoing process.
The move is not entirely unexpected. Earlier, ‘Biswa Bangla’ logos had also been removed from several ghats in Digha. The removal of the logo from the main entrance gate will now mark another significant change in the appearance of the popular seaside destination.
The entrance gate itself has a connection with Digha’s earlier beautification initiatives. During the previous government’s tenure, several projects were undertaken to improve the appearance and infrastructure of Digha and make the tourist destination more attractive.
As part of that beautification drive, the entrance gate was constructed in 2016. The ‘Biswa Bangla’ logo was subsequently installed on top of the structure.
For several years, tourists entering Digha would see the logo prominently displayed on the gate. It became one of the visible symbols associated with the entrance to the seaside town.
However, with the change in the state government and the introduction of a new branding policy, the logo is now set to disappear from the structure.
The administration’s immediate priority is to ensure that the removal work does not disrupt traffic on National Highway 116. The road is an important communication route for Digha and is used by tourists, local residents, traders and goods vehicles.
Any major obstruction could create traffic congestion and inconvenience, particularly during periods of heavy tourist movement. Therefore, authorities have arranged for vehicles to be diverted near the petrol pump in front of the Digha gate.
Passengers travelling through the area between midnight and 3 am on September 14 and 15 are likely to experience the traffic diversion. Authorities have advised motorists to remain alert and follow instructions from traffic personnel while passing through the area.
The temporary traffic restrictions are expected to remain in place only during the hours required for the removal operation. Once the work is completed, normal traffic movement will resume.
Although the operation involves removing a logo, it represents a visible change in one of Digha’s most recognisable landmarks. The entrance gate, which was constructed in 2016 as part of a beautification initiative, will now lose the branding associated with the previous government.
For tourists visiting Digha, the change may be noticeable immediately upon entering the town. The administration is also taking steps to ensure that the removal process causes minimum disruption to the flow of traffic.
The work scheduled for Monday and Tuesday nights will therefore bring a visible change to the entrance of Digha, while the temporary traffic restrictions are intended to ensure that the operation is completed safely and efficiently.
