JOIN USA protest by sugar cane growers on Friday brought traffic to a standstill in central areas of the City.
Traffic jams were reported for hours especially in and around the Majestic area when around 2,000 sugarcane growers from across the State took out a rally from City railway station to Freedom Park, in support of their various demands. Around 300 police personnel were deployed to regulate traffic. Buses from Majestic were held up in huge traffic jams, causing hardship to commuters.
It was bumper to bumper traffic from Chalukya Circle to Kempegowda Bus Station. Traffic moved slowly between Anand Rao Circle and Race Course Road from 12.30 pm to 3 pm, the Upparpet traffic police said.
Vehicles coming from Anand Rao Circle and proceeding towards K R Circle were diverted through Basaveshwar Circle and CID junction (Palace Road) instead of Anand Rao Circle flyover and Freedom Park. Since about 4,000 BMTC and 2,000 KSRTC buses ply on the stretch, the situation turned into chaos during the protest. But traffic became normal after 3 pm, according to the Upparpet traffic police.
Sugar cane growers demanded payment of Rs 3,500 crore in dues from 56 sugar factories. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Hasiru Sene have criticised the State government for its “failure” to ensure remunerative prices to sugar cane farmers.
KRRS president, Kodihalli Chandrashekar, said farmers would lay a siege to the Vidhana Soudha on Monday to remind the government of its “unkept” promises.