Better coordination means no traffic jam

The traffic movement was quite normal like any other day though more than 1000 vehicles, including 500 BMTC buses and other four wheelers thronged the Palace Grounds during the peak hours between 10.30 am and 12 noon.

“Everything happened systematically. There was absolutely no jam or slow movement. The drivers displayed a high order of discipline on roads. The hard work of the traffic police yielded results,” Praveen Sodh Additional Commissioner (Traffic & Safety) told Deccan Herald.

The City police had came in for sharp criticism from different quarters when Bangalore came to a grinding halt on November 18, 2008 when the JD(S) organised a state-level rally. Even the High Court reprimanded the City Police for not taking adequate measures to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Thousands of vehicles were piled up in a massive, gridlock in and around the Palace Grounds with ripple effects being felt almost all over the City on November 18 when JD(S) had organised a convention. Main roads, ring roads, service roads and even many artillery roads were clogged. Virtually on that day the City’s veins and arteries were choked. Ambulances, office-goers and scores of schoolchildren were struck on roads for hours. Many air passengers headed for the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) missed their flights. The unprecedented chaos had thoroughly exposed the traffic police.

Coordinated Effort

The previous experience taught the police a few lessons. So, this time around the police decided to make a coordinated effort, involving BMTC and organisers, explained Sood.
The police detailed the drivers about routes and issued directions about dos and don'ts. The department prepared the officials for a possible crisis. The police informed the public to avoid roads in and around Mekhri Circle through media and by sending messages.
Moreover, the organisers gave the police exact picture about the people, their places, background and vehicles. All these things came handy for the ground force to act in a scientific way, he added.

Additional force

Another reason for the smooth traffic flow was due to deployment of additional forces. As many as 400 policemen, 200 each from East and West Divisions were pressed into service to ensure no traffic jam occurred. Around 500 policemen of law and order wing were also involved.

“There was strict enforcement of the traffic restrictions. Traffic signals functioned as usual till 11.30 am when buses carrying participants started coming on the roads. The police suddenly started managing the things manually. They gave directions to the road users and allowed vehicles taking existing situation into consideration,” said DCP (West) Pandurang Rane.

The police allowed the vehicles into the Palace Grounds from two gates. The vehicles from Yeshwanthpur and from Hebbal (only on upper ramp) were allowed to enter from two gates-either from Amanulla Gate or Sri Krishnavihar gate. Vehicles from Cauvery junction were allowed inside only from Sri Krishnavihar gate. It avoided pressure as vehicles from upper ramp can take free left turn and enter inside Amaunall Gate, Rane added.

The police monitored the traffic flow with the help of signals from 1 pm and again controlled manually from 2.30 to 4 pm when the function concluded and buses and private vehicles started returning.

The police had also identified three different spaces for parking lots which prevented drivers from parking the vehicles outside as it had happened on November 18, 2008.

- Involved BMTC and other organisations in the coordinated effort
- As many as 400 policemen were pressed into service to ensure smooth traffic flow
- Traffic movement was monitored from 1 pm