Putin puts weekend traffic in disarray

Putin puts weekend traffic in disarray

Prominent roads were closed for one hour from 5.15 pm, then opened for 10 minutes and closed again for half an hour.

Deccan Herald

Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of the world’s most protected VIPs, gave Bangalore police a taste of his high-profile status when he arrived in the City on Saturday evening.

Accompanied by 35 Russian security officials, Mr Putin’s entourage consisted five cars that were specially airlifted from Russia for his convoy, not to speak of the 65 Russian security officials, who were already camping in Bangalore since five days.

Four tonnes of communication equipment was also part of the convoy.

As if all this arrangement was insufficient, Bangalore police deployed over 1,000 policemen for road bandobast and security measures.

Most high-ranking police officers of the City police hierarchy hit the roads, taking vantage positions to ensure safe passage of Mr Putin’s convoy.

Roads closed

Motorists, as usual, bore the brunt of the traffic diversions, with main roads such as Airport, Dickenson, Cubbon, Infantry and Raj Bhavan Roads, closed during peak hours of weekend.

The roads were closed for one hour from 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm, then opened for 10 minutes and closed again for half an hour. “Congestion is inevitable. We had informed the public through newspapers. No Bangalore road can take the traffic load of another road,” said a senior police officer, when contacted.

Among the worst-affected were Airport Road, Old Madras Road and Suranjan Das Road.

Earlier, tight security marked the arrival of the Russian President. Putin, who arrived at around 6 pm on a two-day official visit to the State along with his wife Lyudmila and a 15-member official and 19-member business delegation, was received at the Bangalore Airport by Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, Chief Secretary K K Misra and Minister of State for Labour Tanveer Sait.

Putin, who arrived by a special Russian flight from Delhi, was accompanied by Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran. From the airport, he was driven to Raj Bhavan in a car that was flown in all the way from Russia.

Two other cars fitted with sophisticated security gadgets were part of the convoy, which aroused the curiosity of onlookers on Airport Road, M G Road, Cubbon Road and Raj Bhavan Road.

On Sunday, Putin is scheduled to visit Infosys and HAL. He will witness a flight demonstration of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), the Intermediate Jet Trainer(IJT) and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) at the HAL airport before leaving for Moscow in the afternoon.