The traffic came to a grinding halt on the Karimnagar - Hyderabad road following the conduct of public meeting of Ministers K. Taraka Rama Rao and Eatala Rajender in the heart of the town by blocking one side of the road on Monday. The Ministers had performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the IT towers on the outskirts and unveiled a pylon to launch development work under the Karimnagar City Renovation (KCR) project.
The conduct of public meeting at the by-pass road after laying foundation stone for IT towers and mobilisation of hordes students and others in school and college buses caused traffic snarls on the road. Another public meeting after unveiling the pylon for the redesigning of the traffic islands in the town caused chaos in the town.
The police officials had refused to accord permission for the conduct of public meeting at DCCB Office in the heart of the town, but the TRS leaders exerted pressure on the police authorities and erected tents blocking the road.
The traffic police diverted the traffic on various other routes via Ambedkar Stadium, Bhagathnagar and Ganeshnagar, but the motorists faced herculean task to reach their destinations. The narrow roads and ongoing developmental works such as construction of side drains had further worsened the movement of vehicles.
Police sources said that “we asked the elected representatives not to block the road in the heart of the town and conduct only one public meeting on the outskirts of town, but in vain”. We diverted the traffic, but the arrival of school and college buses at a time created commotion, they said complained “it was only a show of strength by the leaders and they do not have any concern for the road-users”.
