Traffic in the State capital was thrown out of gear due to the rallies taken out by th BJP on Friday over the arrest of MlA Ganesh Joshi. Jams started in the morning and continued till late evening to the woes of the commuters.
BJP activists took out rallies that the snaked through the roads throughout the day. Though the rallies were mostly small the commuters were nevertheless inconvenienced. Snarls were found at various crossings. Things were compounded as police had put up barricades at various places in the city in the morning in anticipation of the rallies following the MlA’s arrest. Administrative officers were also deployed to maintain law and order in the city.
The barricades installed at various places around the Vidhan Sabha premises by the administration made the traffic crawl. locals residing around Vidhan Sabha area were inconvenienced as the administration had stopped their movement as well as that of their vehicles.
Commuters at Rispana Bridge were witnessed arguing with the police personnel when they were stopped at the barricade.
BJP supporters staged rallies at SSP office, Rispana Bridge, Jogiwala and some other places in the city. Vehicles were found stuck up at MKP College Chowk, Dharmpur, Araghar, Clock Tower, Survey Chowk, Dilaram Chowk, Doon Hospital and many other places in the city. Things turned harrowing when it was the time for the schools to close.
Sameer, resident of Nehru Colony, said that police had put barricades at various places along the roads, causing inconvenience to the local residents. “They should refrain from such acts as these land the commuters and others in trouble. Barricades should be placed for specified time and the people should be informed beforehand as far as possible,” he added.
Ramesh Semwal, another commuter, said that they had faced traffic snarls that continued throughout the day. Those residing in the areas marked for the protest bore the maximum brunt of things, he said.
Echoing the same anguish, Reena, a commuter, said that they had to walk long distance to get autos/Vikrams to go back home. Venting annoyance, Suman Bisht, found waiting for Vikram, said it was a daily ordeal. “Things turn extreme when the political parties take out rallies,” she added.