Rally around city snarls up traffic

Rally around city snarls up traffic
The Times of India


Bangalore: If there is protest in the air, it means Bangalore’s roads will be choked.
On Friday, life braked and crept along for hours as agitators, under the banner of the Kurubara Sangha, took to the streets to protest the demolition of the Kanakana Gopura in Udupi’s Krishna temple premises.

The march began at Kanakadasa Circle in Gandhinagar and proceeded towards Basaveshwara Circle via Old Central Jail, Seshadri Road and Palace Road. Near Basaveshwara Circle, the protesters were addressed by chief minister N. Dharam Singh, deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah and other leaders.

This had a cascading effect, with traffic jams being reported from Majestic area, KSRTC and BMTC bus stands, City Railway Station, Gandhinagar, Rajajinagar, Okalipuram, Malleswaram, Seshadripuram, Basaveshwara Circle, High Grounds Circle, Palace Road, Cauvery junction, Mehkri Circle and surrounding areas, from 10 am onwards. Near Windsor Manor junction, traffic was not allowed and commuters had to take circuitous routes after waiting their turn for hours.

Police officers remained mute spectators as pedestrians, bikers, car drivers, autodrivers and other road users waited out the jams under a bright January sun.

At 3.30 pm, the crowd moved towards Palace Grounds for a public meet via High Grounds junction, Mount Carmel College, Cauvery junction, Bellary Road, Mehkri Circle, after the CM and DyCM left Basaveshwara Circle.

For some time, the roads were clear, but after the meet petered out at around 7.30 pm, the return of the protesters in vans and buses once again snarled up traffic during peak evening hours.

“It took nearly two hours for me to travel from Vijayanagar to Vidhana Soudha which on any other day would take only half-anhour,” Vandana, resident of Vijayanagar, said. “When police have given permission for a rally, what stopped them from informing the public in advance against taking those roads?” another asked.

Police hands are tied, says commissioner

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: In August 2004, when the BJP organised a week-long dharna against the arrest of Uma Bharti at the crowded Town Hall junction in the city, police commissioner S. Mariswamy had announced: “Henceforth, we will not allow roads to be taken over by protesters. We will ban rallies and other methods of protesting on roads and notify a couple of grounds for staging protests.’’

Whatever happened to the commissioner’s promise? Says Mariswamy: “We are in a democracy and cannot suppress the feelings of the protesting public. Before banning rallies on roads, we need to create space for protests. Till then, I cannot ban them on the roads.’’

A list of places, including the Old Central Jail premises, has been drawn up by the police and sent to the government for approval. A senior officer commented: “Prior permission was given by the top brass to the Kurubara Sangha to take out the rally on the above roads. We had prepared a security plan. Unfortunately, we could not handle the huge crowd.’’

WHO WAS HIT?

• BMTC buses were stopped on Seshadri Road, Windsor Manor junction, Race Course Road and other areas for over two hours.
• Schedule of KSRTC buses moving out of town was disturbed.
• Business activity paralysed in Majestic and surrounding areas.
• Students, advocates, office-goers, patients, businessmen were stranded for hours on the roads.
• Traffic policemen had some heavy duty at junctions.