BJP workers with food, hookahs enter Panchkula as VIP movement chokes city

The oath-taking ceremony at Sector 5 in Panchkula, influx of buses ferrying attendees of the event and VIP movement on Chandigarh side of the city meant traffic congestion for city residents and commuters on Thursday.

While the Majri Chowk and Kalka-Zirakpur road remained jammed in the morning and afternoon hours, vehicles were left stranded on roads as VIP movement began on the Housing Board road.

Despite having issued guidelines for commuters to take detours and avoid the areas surrounding Sector 5, the Panchkula police failed to ensure a smooth commute in the city.

Expecting a huge gathering at the event, the state government had pressed over 2,000 buses from all across the state to transport the attendees to the city.

Buses came from Jhajjar, Kurukshetra, Gurugram, Sonipat, Kaithal and other areas.

Those commuting from Panipat, Yamunanagar, Naraingarh and Kurukshetra, among others, reached the city from Barwala, but were caught-up in traffic nearby the Majri Chowk adjacent to Sector 1.

DSP-level officers stood on the road to manage the influx of vehicles.

The entry of hundreds of buses from a single road led to traffic congestion.

As a result, the buses were redirected toward the Kalka-Zirakpur road, to take a U-turn inward Sector 2 and reach the venue.

The same later led to traffic chaos on the Zirakpur road as well.

Caught in traffic, bus drivers parked their vehicles on the road and attendees started going toward the venue on foot.

Many spat on the road while they smoked cigarettes. Others had food on the roadside. Some attendees in fact brought along their hookahs and puffed them on roadside.

Traffic congestion was witnessed on the road nearby Sectors 17 and 18 on the housing board road as VIPs entered the city from Chandigarh.

Police personnel blocked traffic movement with barricades and ropes. Many commuters were left stranded on roads for over half-an-hour. For others, a usual five-minute commute between two sectors became a drive of 30 minutes.

The police department had issued advance guidelines for traffic flow and parking. While the parking of vehicles nearby Red Bishop tourist complex at Sector 1 led to marginal congestion during morning hours, police officials standing guard near the MDC area redirected traffic to clear the vehicles off the roads.

The Sector 5 area was properly cordoned-off for regular commuters.

The traffic movement on roads connecting Shaheed Major Sandeep Shankhla Chowk, Hafed Chowk, Sector 4 and 5 traffic light, Shaheed Udham Singh Chowk, Sector 9 and 10 traffic light, Sector 8-9 traffic lights, upto the Shakti Bhawan chowk remained suspended till the afternoon.