Post Open Streets event, business as usual on MG Road

 It was business as usual on MG Road on Monday, a day after Open Street event when traffic was closed from 9 am to 9 pm, paving the way for a carnival-like atmosphere.

Snail-paced vehicular movement, traffic signals, commuters honking and the scorching summer heat comprised a true Monday morning scene. Commuters shouted at people for more space and traffic police conducted routine vehicle checks. The colourful buntings, which gave a festive feel the previous day, were also removed. “It is surprising to see that everything was cleaned up over night,” said Saddiq M, a regular commuter on MG Road.

Due to a shortage of dustbins and the huge crowd that the road had hosted on Sunday, garbage was thrown on roadsides. But by Monday, all of this was cleaned up, except for a few stinking spots near the prepaid autorickshaw stand, opposite the Metro Station and near Anil Kumble junction.

According to BBMP officials, the stall owners had cleared most of the garbage last night. There were many mobile food vans, eateries and stalls selling arts, crafts, plants and more. The Department of Urban Land Transport officials had instructed all the stall owners to clear most of the garbage, which they did.

“The stall owners cleared around five tonnes of garbage by themselves last night and the remaining garbage of around two tonnes was picked up by the BBMP vehicles at 6.30 am. Pourakarmikas were also pressed into action to sweep the roads early in the morning, so that things would be easy going in the busy Central Business District,” said BBMP Executive Engineer Mohan Das.