E-Paper
Life goes slow on city roads
BE IT festivals or the civic polls, common man's comfort seems to get last priority in the minds of not only the officials concerned but also the very people trying to win public support to get elected.
BE IT festivals or the civic polls, common man's comfort seems to get last priority in the minds of not only the officials concerned but also the very people trying to win public support to get elected.
Traffic snarls, blowing of horns and blaring loudspeakers are just some of the hardships that a common Allahabadi suffers during the festive season or run-up to the civic polls.
Traffic jam has become an acute problem of the city with an increase in the number of vehicles plying during the last few years. The problem is multiplied by the long series of vehicles as a part of the procession taken out by the candidates and their supporters especially in congested areas like Chowk, Johnstonganj, Katra and Civil Lines.
The people out for shopping seem to suffer the most as they find it hard to move or to park their vehicles as almost all the roads and parking lots were being used by the processionists and public meetings held by candidates trying their fortune for the civic polls.
Vinod Shukla, a government employee, expressed anguish over the supporters shouting slogans on speeding vehicles of candidates displaying their strength before filing their nomination. He said, "We were pushed aside by the storming supporters on two-wheelers and four-wheelers and had to wait and move through a traffic jam after the procession passed off. I think the government should ban the use of vehicles for elections in the city and the candidates should walk down the streets for canvassing."
"We were caught in the traffic jam near Collectorate when a number of candidates enjoyed the liberty of addressing public meeting on the main road in front of the authorities who overlooked the inconvenience caused to the public passing through the road", said KK Srivastava, another government employee.
Narainan Srinivasan, a teacher said, " The increase in number of vehicles with no provision for parking and reduced width of the roads, the traffic jams are a daily affair in important market areas including Chowk, Johnstonganj, Katra and Civil Lines."
"The commercial complexes raised in the city attract heavy rush but with no proper parking places, the vehicles are parked on the roadside reducing the width of the road. The authorities should ensure that the upcoming commercial buildings have proper parking lots and provisions of road widening for future growth", he added.
RN Tripathi, a resident of Allahpur said, " If the candidates flout the rules and do not follow the code of conduct in the civic polls, then what is the use of corporators who fail to provide any assistance to the people and hardly show any interest to reform the erring civic departments."
"There was a time when traffic and police administration remained on their toes and controlled the traffic. But now the authorities appear to have turned a blind eye towards the recurring problem. Instead of beefing up the security and traffic, they were now offering liberty during the election time", he added.
On being contacted CO Traffic Sanjay Yadav said, " We have controlled the traffic during nominations and even held several vehicles for breaking the traffic rules. To check the use of number of vehicles during the nominations was the duty of the authorities responsible for monitoring the code of conduct. However we tried our best to ensure that no inconvenience was caused to public."
"We have procured three cranes to lift vehicles parked in non-parking zones. Besides, discussions are being held to find solution to traffic problems in busy areas. Speed limits will be prescribed in different areas to check the accidents and diversion of tempo-taxi routes are also being discussed to check traffic snarls across the city", he added.
