Road blocked for CM’s visit, commuters hit

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 15

While the residents hailed the state government’s plan to built five flyovers in the city to ease the traffic, they felt the pain of congestion during Capt Amarinder Singh’s visit to the city on Monday as the police had blocked the Mall road, near Company Bagh. The CM was in the city to announce several development projects. The road adjacent to the Company Bagh, where the CM had to attend a function, was blocked early in the morning. It remained closed till Capt left.

The stretch is used by people residing in the localities along the Batala road to enter Civil Lines. Due to the blockage, the commuters had to take long routes to reach their destinations, causing traffic jam on the Majitha road and the Hussainpura bridge.

A resident, Supriya Bhardwaj, said, “Residents often have to face such troubles during visits of VVIPs as unjustified restrictions are imposed on commuters. People should not be disturbed for ministers or others.”

Residents said the road should have been blocked a few few minutes before the arrival of the CM. “People do understand the security concerns, but blocking the road during the peak traffic hours, when people leave for their works and children for their schools, can’t be justified,” said another resident, Kamalpreet Batth. The politicians should try to behave like an ordinary person to win hearts, he added.