March 14: Rallies conducted by political leaders who are denied tickets by their respective parties are turning out to be a huge menace for the traffic police.
Not a day passes without a dejected or angry leader taking out a protest march through the city streets clogging and obstructing traffic for hours together at various points.
It is not just the ‘rejects’ who take out marches. Rallies are also held to mark switching of political loyalties.
The former Congress minister, Mr Maganti Babu’s switchover to the Telugu Desam was marked by a huge rally from Jubilee Hills to the TD office opposite Brahmananda Reddy Park.
Similarly, Mr Kesineni Nani’s moving from Praja Rajyam to the TD was celebrated through a massive rally by supporters.
“We don’t know if they are able to impress their party leaders but they are successful in causing traffic snarls in the city,” said the DCP (West Zone), Mr C. Ravi Varma.
Getting a raw deal are people who regularly ply on the Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills stretch and connecting roads which lead to them.
“Those who decide to take out rallies in the evening end up blocking daily commuters on their way back home,” added Mr Varma.
Adding to the problem is the increased activity in party offices in the heart of the city.
Offices of three major parties are located in prominent parts of the city and every activity there causes a traffic block. “The only way out is to organise such rallies in the city outskirts,” said the additional commissioner of police (traffic), Mr N.V. Surendra Babu. “The rallies are meant as a show of strength by parties who are fiercely competing against each other.”
No comments:
Post a Comment