Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has changed the venue and time of ‘Raahgiri’ Day, merely a week after it began in the State capital, following vociferous protests by various church associations, which blamed the ‘no-vehicle event’ for blocking streets leading to churches on Sundays.
“Now, the stretch beginning from Jaipal Singh Stadium and ending at Kali Mandir Chowk, instead of turning towards Mission Chowk on Purulia Road via Sarjana Chowk, will be reserved for ‘Raahgiri’ for three hours (6:00 am to 9:00 am) rather than four hours (6:00 am to 10:00 am),” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Dilip Xalxo.
The changes came before the festival of Easter which will be observed this Sunday. On this day, more than 50,000 devotees are expected to visit the St Mary’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral Church near Mission Chowk. Radium Chowk, Jail More and Mission Chowk will not be barricaded for ‘Raahgiri’ to ensure easy passage of churchgoers, Xalxo pointed out.
In a press conference on Saturday, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi Archdiocese said, “Masses are held in churches on Sunday morning between 5:30 am and 10:30 am. Blocking the main artery of the city during this time in the name of ‘Raahgiri’ Day poses problems for the churchgoers, especially the elders. This is against the right of prayer for a particular religious community.”
“If Raahgiri Day does not stop on Sundays, we will move the court along with writing letters to the President, Governor and Chief Minister too,” he further threatened.
‘Raahgiri’ run changes after churches’ protestThe press conference was called following a meeting of church authorities with Prashant Kumar, Municipal Commissioner of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), where he had assured them that the route to churches will be kept free of activities conducted under ‘Raahgiri’ Day.
The church authorities also conversed with Ranchi traffic police, one of the two organisers with RMC, who informed them about the revised plans for ‘Raahgiri’. later, they consented to the change in plans.
“If the location and timings are changed as per our convenience, we will also be happy to participate in the events of Raahgiri Day,” stated Alexius Ekka, Director of Xavier Institute of Social Services, a Jesuit-run business school on Purulia Road.
“We have been limited to Mahatma Gandhi Marg (Main Road) for the first two Raahgiri Days, but will also expand to other major arteries of the city too. Based on the feedback from the denizens of the city through our ward councillors, we will select other venues for Raahgiri,” stated Mayor Asha lakra.
A 2km-stretch of the state capital's main thoroughfare, from Kutchery till Mission Chowk via Albert Ekka Chowk, was cleared of all traffic on March 20 to set the stage for a host of fun-filled activities that residents could indulge in. A joint initiative of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and traffic police, Rahgiri Day aimed at engaging people in some healthy activity for few hours without vehicles to contribute towards the environment and help make Ranchi congestion free.