Open House: How should Chandigarh address issue of inconvenience caused by VIPs’ carcade?
Abolish VIP culture
It is not for the first time that the residents have experienced great difficulty. First it was during the Haryana Chief Minister’s swearing-in-ceremony on October 17 and then by the farmers’ protest. Visits of VVIPs always create traffic congestion in the city. It is not out of place to mention in 2009 during the visit of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an ambulance with a patient could not reach the PGI. The patient died on the way. Even this time an ambulance could only reach its hospital after and hour and a pregnant lady patient suffered desperately. Owing to heavy traffic jams, police advisory remained ineffective. To check traffic congestion, we should learn a lesson from former US president Bill Clinton who used to walk on the streets of Washington streets without creating any problem for the residents. To solve this gigantic problem, VVIP culture needs to be abolished.
SK Khosla
Plan routes
Barring the President, PM, CJI, the Governor, CM and CJs of high courts, no one else should be treated as VIPs. If the concerned have such high perception of security concerns, they must leave public life for good. Having said that the routes of VIP movements should be planned with public convenience in mind. These should be intimated to regular users with full clarity. Alternative traffic routes should be hindrance free. Public meetings involving VIPs should be planned on holidays only.
Deepak Taak, Panchkula
Avoid peak hours
The VVIPs are well aware of the harassment the public has to go through due to their movement. Why don’t they avoid moving around with the cavalcade within the Tricity during peak hours? The best would be to take the VVIPs from the airport to the venues by helicopters by creating helipads on such places. This is the safest, fastest and easiest way to ferry VVIPs . Hundreds of policemen and vehicle can be sad and deployed where it is needed most. In the West, the top VVIPs move unnoticed without police fanfare and without encroaching the liberty of people.
Capt Amar Jeet
Focus on coordination
Residents are stuck in the traffic for hours when there is VIP movement in the city. So, there should be proper barriers or separate routes made for the people and if in case the routes are diverted they should be diverted through good roads and not the bad ones. It is time to prepare a comprehensive traffic plan to keep pace with the changing political scenario. Venues should be planned to open outside space from core areas of city for VIP gatherings. The VIP should use the present arena of digital communication. They have a lot of facilities to address the masses through internet by virtual meetings or virtual rallies with masses and this will avoid stampede that happens normally. Digital communication will avoid traffic jam and will provide safety to the VIPs.
Dr Anita Jaswal
Inform residents
The UT police can take proactive measure using social media handles to inform the public about VVIP movements and protest sites so that commuters can avoid those areas. An app could be launched where commuters can check traffic status on a real time basis and avoid congested areas. On certain dates like the Independence Day, Republic Day and days on which Punjab and Haryana’s assemblies are in session, VVIP movement is bound to take place and a route map should be published in newspapers for the benefit of the public. The help of FM stations could be used where radio jockeys can easily inform commuters driving their cars on which routes to avoid due to VVIP movement or any other protest.
Gurnoor Grewal, Chandigarh
Need change of mindset
VIP movement is great nuisance for the commuters. The VVIP’s try to travel unaware rather than overhyped. Their security is the responsibility of intelligence officers not by making the commuters stranded causing chaos. Our VVIP’s need to change their mind-set. Take the example of the US where the President will travel like an ordinary citizen but here in our country every regular citizen tries to flout his clout and status. Education and family background play an important role in bringing change in society. The police will keep reeling under the pressure of VVIP’s.
Opinder K Sekhon, Chandigarh
Use traffic sensors
Handling traffic blockades during VIPs movement requires careful planning and coordination of police with VIP escorts. CCTV cameras and traffic sensors should be deployed to get real time traffic updates and to divert traffic to alternate routes, through local announcements in social media and newspapers. Free passage should be ensured for ambulances and halts should be as short as possible ensuring road clearances section by section considering time availability when the VIP arrivals are announced.
Harinder Singh Bhalla, Chandigarh
Use dynamic diversions
The UT police can minimise commuter disruption during VIP movement by adopting real-time traffic management, such as dynamic roadblocks and temporary diversions, coupled with improved public communication through mobile alerts. Deploying drones for surveillance can reduce the need for excessive police presence, while staggered timings for VIP routes can prevent peak-hour jams. These measures ensure both the security of dignitaries and the smooth flow of traffic without public inconvenience.
Gaganpreet Singh
Plan comprehensively
To mitigate traffic congestion during VIP movements, UT police can implement a comprehensive plan. This could involve pre-mapping alternate routes, coordinating with traffic management agencies, and utilising advanced technologies like real-time traffic monitoring systems. Additionally, public awareness campaigns can educate commuters about potential disruptions and encourage them to plan their journeys accordingly. By combining these strategies, the police can ensure the safety of the dignitary while minimising inconvenience to the public.
Amanjot Kaur, Mohali
Employ smart system
Implement a temporary road closure system. For critical sections of the VIP route, consider temporarily closing specific roads to reduce traffic flow and improve security. Utilise public transportation. Encourage commuters to use public transportation during VIP movements to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. Coordinate with local businesses: Work with local businesses to implement temporary parking restrictions or offer alternative parking options during VIP events. Deploy traffic officers strategically: Station traffic officers at key intersections to manage traffic flow and redirect drivers to alternative routes. Invest in advanced traffic management systems: Utilise advanced technologies like intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to monitor traffic conditions in real-time and make data-driven decisions.
Gurdev Singh, Mohali
Deploy more officers
To effectively address traffic congestion during VIP movements, UT police should implement a comprehensive plan that combines various strategies. This could include temporarily closing specific roads, encouraging the use of public transportation, coordinating with local businesses for parking restrictions, strategically deploying traffic officers, and investing in advanced traffic management systems. By implementing these measures, the police can not only ensure the safety of the VIP but also minimise disruptions to the public’s daily commute. Additionally, public awareness campaigns can educate commuters about potential traffic congestion and encourage them to plan their journeys accordingly.
Gurpreet Kaur, Mohali
Optimise diversions
Utilise alternative routes for dignitaries, avoiding peak hours and main thoroughfares. Employ advanced traffic management systems, such as intelligent traffic signals and real-time monitoring. Provide commuters prior notification of VIP movements through mobile apps and social media. Optimise traffic diversion plans, designating specific lanes for dignitary convoys. Collaborate with traffic authorities to ensure seamless execution, minimising disruptions.
Sahibpreet Singh, Mohali
Think of ambulances
Commuters face and will continue to face harassment caught in traffic snarls due to VVIP movement because the latter themselves are never at the receiving end. The administration’s apathy remains the real culprit behind public woes. All principal roads in the tricity are multi-lane and impatient overtaking is the reason behind disruption in smooth traffic flow that warrants strictly enforcing single-file movement on busy roads. Let ambulances have the exclusive right of way in the right-most lane. High-profile visitors, should as a rule, move by helicopters to their destination venue from the airport. Clusters of buses should not be parked along roads nearby but only a kilometre or two away after dropping visitors at the venue.
Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
Enforce speed limit
The issue of VIP culture has remained a grey area in the whole country. Chandigarh being the HQs and a full UT has more movements for sure. Firstly, police must control the VIP escorts speed limits. They wade through traffic dangerously with hooters with complete disregard to other traffic. Secondly, the routes may not be closed for VIP cars for such a long time. The large number of cops deployed to manage this is a loss to the exchequer. Like other countries, unless it’s PM or President, rest everyone goes with flow of traffic. This will help a lot of jam issues that are created by mismanagement. For VIPs needing extra security, route changes may be done at short notice rather than blocking same routes making them
more vulnerable.
Wg Cdr V Chhibber, Chandigarh
Time signals efficiently
The VIP visits in city have become a nightmare for the people of the city. It must be made sure that no common man is made to suffer in the name of such visits. Traffic must be managed in an equal way both for VIPs as well as city residents, thereby causing no inconvenience to anyone. Advance notification to the residents and commuters about the VVIP visit and expected traffic disruptions can be of great help. The authorities must identify alternative routes for commuters and divert traffic away from the VIP route. Scheduling the VIP visit during non-peak hours would minimise disruptions. Designate separate lanes for emergency services, public transportation, and authorized vehicles. Use social media, mobile apps, and digital displays to inform commuters about traffic conditions along with the use of CCTV cameras and sensors to monitor
traffic flow and optimise signal timings.
Sahibpreet Singh, Mohali
Know the routes
When we are following the foreign culture in most things, so why not in case of VIP movement which is taken as a normal thing in any foreign country. Also every vehicle owner pays road tax in his or her state so the concerned person has every right to move ahead of the VIP troupe. To avoid the traffic jams one must try to adopt the alternative routes; make use of car pooling system as it will not only reduce pollution but also the traffic jams. Last but not the least the residents should keep themselves aware of the routes VIPs take.
Savita Kuthiala, Mohali
QUESTION FOR NEXT WEEK
In view of the rapid rise in dengue cases in the tricity, what measures should the authorities take to effectively control its spread?
Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com
