Commuters in the central business district of Belagavi suffered a two-hour-long traffic jam due to a protest rally by farmers on Monday.
Innumerable number of farmers squatted at the Rani Channamma Circle, stopping movement of vehicles on the four double roads that cut through the intersection.
They sat there shouting slogans against the Union and State governments, seeking loan waiver, speedy completion of irrigation schemes and fulfilment of other demands.
They told the police that they would not budge till Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram came to the spot to listen to their grievances. They dispersed only after the officer came to the spot and received their memorandum.
Their sit-in protest affected movement of vehicles. Vehicles stood idling for over a kilometre on Club Road, leading to the Defence Colony from Channamma Circle. The police diverted traffic away from the central business district, by asking commuters to ride through the military camp area and Vengurla Road.
Heavy rain added to the woes of stranded commuters. Vehicle movement remained steady over the century-old overbridge near the railway station. The speed of vehicles slowed down on Congress Road and Khanapur Road, due to the jam at Gogte Circle.
