Three protests and governor’s programme in the town hall resulted in major traffic disorder on the roads from Regional Transport Office (RTO) to Clock Tower and from Tehsil Chowk to Prince Chowk on Monday. According to official sources, police have been deployed for the Kanwad Mela set to start from July 17 which reduced the number of police personnel on traffic duty here. Those posted in the city were busy maintaining traffic with the former employees of 108 emergency ambulance services rallying towards Chief Minister’s house, protest of Pradesh Congress Committee, governor being escorted to and from the town hall and escorting Chief Minister through alternate route.
On the traffic congestions in the city Superintendent of Police (traffic) Prakash Chandra Arya said, “The traffic situations on Monday were challenging but we managed to keep the traffic operational. There were three protests and three VIP programmes in the city, which resulted in traffic related situations. The challenging part was when the school ended for the day and these programmes were ongoing, which lead to traffic chaos. Because of the protest march of former employees of 108 ambulance service, we had to give CM an alternate route.”
He added, “Considering the increasing number of daylight crime, we also conducted checks too. Of course, as the force has been diverted for Kanwad season and the focus inside the district is on Neelkanth also, the traffic force in the city has reduced, but we are managing as we take force from police stations and posts during peak hours.”
With the reduction of traffic personnel in the city area, many junctions on Monday were in chaos. At some places where neither the traffic personnel were present nor traffic lights were working situation worsened. However, Doon Hospital chowk was in chaos because of the lack of coordination between the three traffic controllers stationed there, which again resulted in traffic congestion there.