VIPs priority for cops as motorists suffer in traffic

Police convert two-way into one-way to let ministers pass

Traffic came to a standstill at many places on Friday as it started raining. The problem was aggravated by the police as they converted a two-way into a one-way to enable smooth movement of ministers’ vehicles at Chalukya Circle. Due to this, the movement of vehicles in front of the ACB office on Race Course Road was badly hit.

“This is absolutely ridiculous on part of traffic,” Rajath, a commuter said.

“You can’t punish the public like this when we’re struck in heavy downpour. More than the police, ministers should have some sense,” he charged.

For over one hour, the vehicles didn’t move on Race Course Road and Sivananda Circle.

Senior traffic police officers were tight-lipped about the incident.

A senior police officer said the police had to make way for the movement of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Vehicles virtually did not move for over two hours on Sirsi Circle flyover. Vehicles lined up in a long queue since 7 pm from Town Hall. It took hours to cross a three-km stretch of the flyover.

As the number vehicles increased on Mysuru Road, there was heavy gridlock near Nayandahalli and Kengeri. The situation was similar till NICE Road.

While situation was no better around Majestic, Yeshwantpur and Peenya, hundreds of passengers staged a flash protest at Kempegowda Bus Station as there were no buses to certain areas.

Most roads surrounding Majestic were jammed with vehicles.

There was equally heavy congestion on Ballari Road, Hosur Road and at Electronics City, said the police.

Rainwater gushed into the basement parking facility at Mantri Square Mall. Due to severe flooding on the road, vehicle movement was stopped for about 45 minutes.

At Navarang Circle, police deployed additional men to manually control traffic as signal lights went off. Vehicles lined up in a long queue on Kuvempu Road from the circle till Srirampuram.

Road users had a tough time as they had to wade through water at several stretches on Magadi Road.

There was heavy congestion of vehicles in City Market, Chickpet, Upparpet and Balepet. A BMTC bus was submerged near Nayandahalli, while road users waited on the road for hours to cross the road.