Sonia brings city to a halt

Traffic hit hard in Bangalore

The Hindu

Vehicles were parked on main roads causing great inconvenience to people


BANGALORE: The sea of humanity at the Palace Grounds for the Congress convention had its effect on the traffic. Throwing normal vehicular movement out of gear, the event reduced travel on the roads to a crawl. Most parts of the city were affected, and the impact could be felt till Sunday evening.

While Bellary Road bore the brunt of the traffic jams, the adjoining Outer Ring Road, Old Madras Road and J.C. Road were also not spared. The spill-over traffic from these arterial roads triggered more traffic jams. For the regular road-users, there was no "Sunday respite" this week.

Big crowds started converging at the convention venue on Sunday morning in private buses and trucks. They were from different parts of the State. As the parking arrangements at the venue were inadequate, many vehicles were parked right on Bellary Road. This affected the movement of vehicles on the road, especially on the narrow stretch of the road near the Hebbal flyover. The problem only got worse when several thousand people started walking on the road. That virtually blocked vehicular traffic.

While those heading for the rally walked on, people going to their offices faced problems galore. Deepa, a call centre employee from Yelahanka New Town, took almost three hours to reach her workplace on Bhagwan Mahaveer (Infantry) Road. Many people were stranded in the traffic blockade for hours on Bellary Road and other parts of the city. The police had a hard time regulating traffic movement.

Traffic was also affected when people started returning after the end of the convention. Private vehicles took time to move, with passengers asking drivers to wait till their near and dear ones boarded the vehicles. Some of those returning to their vehicles were found carrying large banners of the convention, mainly to cover their heads while travelling by open trucks.

With riding on the roads out of question, two-wheeler riders used the footpath. It was dangerous riding, but they had no choice.

Office-goers, unable to travel in their private vehicles, looked around for autorickshaws. But there were none as the traffic police had banned them around the venue. Walking was the only option. The police had announced traffic regulations on Bellary Road, Jayamahal Road, Old Madras Road, Hosur Road, Kanakapura Road, Mysore Road, Ramana Maharshi Road and other roads leading to the venue.