VVIPs bring city traffic to halt

VVIPs bring city traffic to halt
The Times of India

Bangalore: VVIPs came flooding into the city on Monday. Four dignitaries from abroad, three of our own, plus a host of officials and security staff. As they zipped in and out of the city’s already choked arterial roads, Bangalore’s traffic came to a halt. The worst affected corridors were Airport Road, Hosur Road, Sankey Road and J C Road.

President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice-President of Panama Ruben Arosemena, King of Sweden Carle Gustav, Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, President Abdul Kalam, governor T N Chaturvedi and CM Dharam Singh, besides each of their long convoys.

The roads couldn’t take it. Tempers flared as commuters lost patience and harried police officials, under extraordinary pressure, struggled to maintain order. At the peak hour, convoys crisscrossed the city with dignitaries visiting Infosys, Wipro, IISc, TERI, Airport, HAL, NIMHANS and Chowdaiah Memorial Hall. Police stopped vehicles near important junctions five minutes prior to the movement of the VVIP calvacades.

On Monday, between 8.30 am and 10.20 pm, dignitaries passed through the Airport Road nine times. The wiser among those who had to catch a flight started at least three to four hours earlier and took alternative routes. But those unlucky not to be aware of the city’s traffic dyanmics just missed their flights. Convoys of the Indonesian President, Panama VP and King of Sweden hit the Hosur Road six times as they visited Wipro and Infosys located in Electronic City.

Sankey Road was another victim. Two VVIPs stayed at a hotel on Race Course Road, one on Kumarakrupa Road, another on Sankey Road and President Kalam at Raj Bhavan. These VVIPs had to pass through the busy Sankey Road whenever they got in or out of their place of stay.

Kalam’s visit to Chowdaiah Memorial Hall in the evening and Sweden King’s visit to IISc led to massive chaos. Singapore’s Mentor Minister was in town on Sunday visiting Infosys, HAL and ISRO. Kalam too arrived on Sunday. The only relief was that it was a holiday.

The proposal to ferry VVIPs from airport to the city centre and the premises of IT majors using helicopters is gathering dust at the Vidhana Soudha.