Traffic chaos as protests block roads

The traffic outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) was disrupted, on Tuesday, due to two consecutive protests.

The traffic outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) was disrupted, on Tuesday, due to two consecutive protests.

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The first protest was staged by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) contract conservancy workers outside the BMC headquarters demanding perks equivalent to those of the civic conservancy workers.

The protest, which began at 11 am, lasted for two hours and created traffic jams in the area.

Minutes after the BMC workers dispersed, more than 230 members of the Rajnikant Fan Club of Mumbai, including women and children, went on a hunger strike against the Bollywood stars who have decided to attend the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony or function, in Colombo from June 3 to June 5.

The protesters gathered at Azad Maidan near CST amid heavy police security.

Women and children shouted slogans against actor Salman Khan, who will be attending the IIFA award function.

“The protest was to be held from 11am on Tuesday but the club members had not obtained permission for the protest. Later when they got permission, police bandobast had to be deployed outside Azad Maidan to make sure that the protest stopped by 5 pm,” said Bhaurav.

Bhawale, senior police inspector of Azad Maidan police station.

“There were more than 30 police officers posted for the protest however the Rajnikant fan club members stopped protesting at deadline and it was carried on in peace,” added an officer from Azad Maidan police station.

“There was chaos all over as protestors blocked the streets. There was a huge traffic jam that lasted more than an hour,” said Meeta Luthra, an employee of a three-star hotel at Churchgate.