SAD, BJP roadshows disrupt traffic flow

As the city witnessed two roadshows—by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—workers and supporters took to the roads in numbers, affecting the movement of traffic.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal led a roadshow, which started from Jawahar Nagar Camp, found its way to Bharat Nagar Singh Chowk, Mall Road, Fountain Chowk, Maharani Jhamsi Road, Ghumar Mandi and finally to Aarti Chowk, where it culminated. Traffic movement on these roads slowed down, commuters faced huge inconvenience as they got stuck on the road. Although the traffic police officials had provided diversions to keep the movement smooth the presence of a large number of vehicles during the roadshow brought traffic to a grinding halt.

After the SAD’s roadshow, the BJP took out one named ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’ in Ghumari Mandi. Commuters faced huge inconvenience as they got stuck on the road.

Commuters said political parties must take into consideration their plight before organising roadshows. They said these must be conducted in less dense areas so that normal life was not affected. “When political parties engage in campaigning, leaders and workers do not follow traffic rules. They park their vehicles where ever they want,” rued a commuter.

Interestingly, as the BJP’s roadshow was underway, the party leaders’ convoy got stuck in traffic. Anurag Thakur got off the truck he was on and started managing traffic to help smoothen the movement.