CM’s convoy diverted, central area gridlocked

CM’s convoy diverted, central area gridlocked


The tree crash outside KSCA Stadium had its impact on chief minister H D Kumaraswamy too. Due to the traffic jam, his convoy was diverted via KR Puram Ring Road.
Around 5 pm, his convoy, which was returning from Hoskote, was scheduled to go via Cubbon Road. The traffic jam in the central parts of the city and the delay in clearing the fallen tree forced the traffic police to divert the convoy. The accident occurred around 12.50 pm and the road was opened for traffic at 7.50 pm. During that period, vehicles were diverted to Cubbon Road, MG Road, Kasturba Road and other adjoining roads. The traffic had a cascading effect for several kilometres, affecting Ulsoor, Commercial Street and Siddalingaiah Circle.
The police could not prevent the gridlock and vehicular movement was very slow. The cops had switched off the traffic lights and tried to unravel the chaos. St Mark’s Road, K a s t u r b a road, Lavelle Road, Raj Bhavan Road, A m b e d k a r Veedhi, Richmond Road, Brigade Road, Commercial Street, Cubbon Road, Ulsoor Road and other roads leading to them were choked.
“From Minsk Square to MG Road, it took me more than 30 minutes,’’ said Anjali. Another motorcyclist, Anand, was fed up and frustrated. He walked to the Bowring Hospital from MG Road. “I waited for 45 minutes, but it did not seem to change. So, I parked my vehicle on the roadside and walked,’’ he said.
“It was tough. We had deployed extra officers to ease traffic congestion,’’ said Madhukar Shetty, DCP (traffic, east).