Terrorists hold Bangalore to ransom

Yes, you read that right. And the terrorists are none other than our Politicians. Throwing all sense of responsibility to the winds, these self-serving scoundrels have held the city to ransom by organizing dharna after bundh and wreaked terror and havoc in its denizens. And its not going to end any time soon. The two leading parties are on a tit-for-tat move. Citizen welfare? What's that?

Snarls hit hapless Bangalore motorists
Most of the roads that were affected were arterial, leaving motorists with little choice of routes.
Deccan Herald

Vehicular traffic around the Town Hall junction, the venue of the launch of the BJP’s satyagraha, went haywire the whole of Wednesday morning.

Travel on all roads around Town Hall — Double Road, Mission Road, Lalbagh Road, J C Road, Nrupathunga Road, N R Road and Silver Jubilee Park Road — was severely affected due to the rally.

With most of these roads being arterial, motorists had little choice as far as opting for alternate routes went. Under the scorching sun the woe for many, including those in desperate hurry, lasted for around four hours.

Asked why no preclusive action was taken despite the rally being scheduled and announced earlier, Police Commissioner S Mariswamy said the venue of the rally itself was not appropriate. “That is not the place where such a rally should be held,” he told Deccan Herald.

Mr Mariswamy said he had earlier written to the State government to provide a place like the Old Prison Ground as a venue for such rallies and protests, where facilities like drinking water and toilets can also be provided. He said despite every precaution being taken, the traffic chaos that ensued was unavoidable.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic & Security) Chandrashekar said a large number of traffic policemen were drawn as a precautionary measure.

“The rally and the subsequent arrests definitely affected traffic movement on many roads. We did our best and made diversions, otherwise the situation could have been worse”, he said.

A commuter from this newspaper reports that a journey from Minerva Circle to Residency Road via H Siddaiah Road, Double Road and Richmond Circle flyover, a distance of about three kilometres, took more than 85 minutes! Cyclists, horse carts, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and loaded lorries all jostled for their bit of space while horns blared and tempers got increasingly frayed. In the blur of the sweltering sun the congested roads seemed to become smaller and smaller while destinations seemed farther and farther.

The signal lights blinking only amber meant that one hapless policeman made a valiant effort to control traffic which seemed to swamp him from all directions.

Traffic was diverted through the narrow lanes leading to Double Road and after a very brief respite, the Richmond Circle flyover presented a similar picture of endless traffic snarls.

Another Deccan Herald correspondent also had a harrowing time. Heading towards Minerva Circle in an auto at noon, the series of traffic snarls made travelling a misery.