VIP movements playing havoc on roads

Preferential treatment for ‘important persons’ resulting in a minimum of 40 road blocks daily

August 13, 2012 11:09 am | Updated November 16, 2021 11:42 am IST - HYDERABAD:

A policeman clearing the traffic for facilitating the easy movement of a VIP convoy. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

A policeman clearing the traffic for facilitating the easy movement of a VIP convoy. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Brace up for more chaos on the roads. If you thought that the creaking infrastructure of the State capital alone is responsible for your traffic woes, you are wrong. The incessant movement of ‘VIPs’ in the city is playing a bigger role in the chaos. On any given day, the preferential treatment being given out to these ‘important’ personalities is resulting in a minimum of 40 road blocks at busy junctions.

Motorists faced a double whammy on Sunday as VIPs scuttled from one function to another, compounding traffic problems even before the civic authorities could restore the Panjagutta-Khairatabad road completely. A portion of the road caved in on Friday causing endless traffic jams. Being the last auspicious day of the current marriage season, the city bustled with traffic on all major roads on Sunday.

Commuters in limbo

“VIP movements have become a bane for city motorists. Irrespective of the nature of emergencies, commuters are left in a limbo for more than half-an-hour at times and it takes hours for this chaos to clear,” an incensed motorist, Shankar Yadav, complained.

VIPs also insist on going through the arterial roads on the pretext that they should be allowed to follow the shortest possible route. “If VIPs have to be given preferential treatment, why don’t they follow the routes that have relatively less traffic? That way they can reach their destinations faster without having to trouble ordinary citizens,” Hari Krishna, an octogenarian opined.

The police are obligated to clear traffic for the Chief Minister and Governor due to their constitutional stature. But nine other VIPs such as the Home Minister, Speaker, Chairman of Legislative Council and DGP, among others, demand traffic clearance regularly. Apart from them, many public representatives and Ministers prevail upon the traffic police to get the right of way.

“Gunmen and drivers of the public representatives often threaten the constables and home guards posted at junctions and break traffic rules with impunity. One such incident can throw smooth flowing traffic into chaos,” a police official pointed out.

The traffic police, on the other hand, said that they obey the orders given by their superiors. “Whenever we get requests for traffic clearance, we try our best to manage traffic and give them clearer roads,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) C.V. Anand said.

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