The traffic system in State Capital was thrown out of gear on Tuesday following rallies taken out by the students’ unions on the final day of the campaigning of the students’ union election in the DAV (PG) College.
The City Patrol Unit personnel, who are normally visible on various roads in the city to regulate traffic and challan traffic violators at crossings, were absent on Tuesday.
CPU personnel seem to be fawning on the students’ leaders, allowing them to violate traffic rules with impunity. The common people are at the receiving end of things. The commuters had a harrowing time on the roads on Tuesday.
Things looked more serious as the rallyists defied the rules by indulging in offences like triple-riding and riding sans helmets. Even they were found jumping the red lights, caring a fig for the traffic norms. Compounding woes for the common people, they created nuisance on the roads and showed red eyes to those who dared raise voice against the rampant flouting of rules and norms.
long queues of vehicles were found stuck at various crossings on roads near DAV (PG) College, Survey Chowk, ISBT Chowk, Dilaram Chowk, Clock Tower, Haridwar Road, Prince Chowk, Saharanpur Chowk and other places in the city. The scene was the same, free for all, since the morning and the snarls took hours to clear. Roads around DAV (PG) College were almost blocked with several unions taking turns to take out rallies, flaunting prowess.
Several organisations like NSUI, Aryan, Satyam Group and Pattu Group and the independent candidates and their supporters took out rallies, leading to the anathema of traffic chaos.
As the people remained stuck, sweating helplessly, the students raised slogans and browbeat those who dared protest against such reckless electioneering, throwing all norms to the winds. “The role of police and that of the much- vaunted CPU is acquiescent at the best and indulgent at the worst,” said a senior citizen from Dehradun, Prem Singh Negi.