JOIN USTraffic flow in City smooth, St Mary's festival peaceful
A Nagappa ACP (East) Traffic was casually sipping coffee near Anil Kumble circle and watching the ongoing Metro works, indicating traffic was well under control.
For once, Bangaloreans showered praises on the traffic department. Though there was slow movement of vehicles on the main roads and many artillery roads in and around MG Road, Shivajinagar, Coles Park etc there was no pile up. "Unlike on Monday evening where commuters were stranded for hours, there was no such problems on Tuesday. The police department going tech savy by sending SMSes helped to a large extent. I know for sure, a majority planned their routes well before starting from home and office," said Ravi Noranha, who has to go past MG Road to his office.
More policemen pooled in B A Muthanna, DCP (East) Traffic, while talking to Deccan Herald said, "On Monday, there were some hiccups and we have overcome most of them. More than 500 traffic policemen from 14 sectors were pooled in for the St Mary's feast. Apart from senior IPS and DCP-ranked officers, more than 14 inspectors, 50 sub-inspectors, 30 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 90 head constables and 170 constables sweated out for more than 19 hours."
Another senior officer said "We never dreamt that the Metro construction team would bring in heavy-duty trucks and water tankers on MG Road. So, we decided to have a meeting to overcome the problems."
He added, "Banning of four-wheeler parking on MG Road and erecting barricades came in handy. The rule has been extended till October 10. Public cooperation is the need of the hour. If they can avoid MG Road until the completion of Metro works, it will serve both ways.”
The annual St Mary’s novena culminated with the procession of St Mary in Shivajinagar.
Lakhs of people attended the Feast on Tuesday, as prayer services were held from the afternoon.
Archbishop Bernard Moras held services in the evening in Kannada, English and Tamil. It was preceded by service by the parish priest of St Mary’s Basilica Fr Arulappa.
Bangalore is the only other place in South India, to have St Mary’s feast, apart from Nagapattinam.
During the nine days, mass prayer services were held and the feast celebrated the birth of Mother Mary on Tuesday, the day which the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the world over.
Mass marriages were also conducted on the occasion. People with ailments also attend the nine day event in large numbers hoping to get cured as Mother Mary is also known as the Lady of Health.