Farmers' Protest Causes Massive Traffic Gridlock in Chandigarh
Chandigarh experienced unprecedented traffic chaos on Friday as a farmers' protest brought several key roads to a standstill, leaving commuters stranded in hours-long traffic jams. More than 100 buses, tractor-trolleys, and other vehicles carrying farmers arrived in the city, marching from Sector 34 to Matka Chowk to demand a reduction in petrol and diesel prices.
Major Roads Choked as Police Struggle to Manage Flow
The march led to severe traffic congestion across Chandigarh, with vehicles crawling on major roads including Madhya Marg and Dakshin Marg. Despite the farmers having announced the protest in advance, the traffic police appeared unprepared, resulting in major bottlenecks on several in-roads. Long serpentine queues of vehicles stretched for kilometers along Madhya Marg and in sectors 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
School Dispersal Timing Worsens Congestion
Adding to commuters' woes, the dispersal of schools coincided with the farmers' protest, further worsening the congestion. Several school buses carrying children were caught in the gridlock and remained stranded on city roads for over an hour, leaving anxious parents and exhausted students stuck in slow-moving traffic. “We've been stuck in this traffic jam for over 45 minutes. The children on the bus are getting restless,” said the driver of a school bus caught in the traffic.
Commuters Face Delays to Railway Station and Airport
The worst affected were commuters heading to the Chandigarh railway station and the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali. “We've been stuck here for nearly an hour with no movement at all,” said a traveller caught in the traffic near Sector 17 while trying to catch a flight. Another commuter, Rakesh, traveling towards Zirakpur, expressed frustration: “If the authorities knew the protests were planned, why weren't effective traffic arrangements made? This is complete chaos, and traffic is moving at a snail's pace.”
Police Arrangements Criticized Despite Advisory
Though the Chandigarh Police had made elaborate security arrangements and issued a traffic advisory to regulate vehicular movement in and around the protest venue, there was chaos on the roads. The protest, which involved a large number of farmers and vehicles, highlighted the lack of preparedness by the traffic police. The incident underscores the challenges of managing large-scale protests in urban areas and the need for better coordination between protesters and authorities to minimize disruption to daily life.
