President’s visit brings city to a standstill

President’s visit brings city to a standstill
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: President A P J Abdul Kalam’s visit to the city made many citizens crib and complain rather than smile. The traffic jams caused by the VVIP visit caused frustration, and the rains added to the mess.

In several areas, traffic stood at a standstill, with motorists getting drenched in the rain. Even in the late afternoon hours, when traffic is usually thin, traffic was jammed for nearly 20 minutes in Koramangala, making way for the President’s convoy.

Several school buses were also stopped. Apart from the regular vehicles, roads were blocked by several KSRTC Rajahamsa buses, hired by IBM, to ferry its employees for the innovation and leadership forum at Palace Grounds.

More chaos was witnessed after five, when people going back home from work, joined the traffic which was already stagnant.

Unfortunately, the President had to attend a function at Airport Road, at 6 pm, an hour when traffic is at its peak. Those taking Airport Road witness traffic jams every day because of the flyover construction, but they had a tougher time on Tuesday.

Commotion reigned at Minsk square and GPO, when traffic policemen failed in directing traffic. Vehicles poured in from all the sides, and the traffic lights could not keep pace with them. Ultimately, the police had to shut down the lights and man the traffic themselves.

Though the entire city faced traffic snarls, the most affected areaswere Jayanagar, Koramangala, Sarjapur Road, Airport Road, K R Road, Raj Bhavan Road, and Cubbon Road.