PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
The demonstrations staged by the two principal parties- Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress- led to heavy traffic jams in central Dehradun on Monday. While police were busy handling the protesters, roads across the city were choked with vehicles, affecting patients, commuters and emergency services.
The protests were held around Gandhi Park and Parade Ground on the ‘purification’ row. While the BJP staged a ‘Samajik Sadbhav Sankalp Dharna’ at Gandhi Park, the Congress took out a march towards the chief minister’s residence despite heavy rain.
Subsequently, traffic remained slow for hours on EC Road, Subhash Road, Amrit Kaur Road and nearby areas. A commuter said that vehicles remained stuck almost bumper to bumper along the stretches from CMI Tiraha to Kala Kendra Chowk and from Dwarka Store to Tehsil Chowk around 1.30 PM.
The traffic jam also affected an ambulance. According to a commuter, a 108 ambulance travelling from Gurunanak Niwas towards Government Doon Medical College Hospital remained stranded for around 30 minutes.
Commuters also complained about vehicles parked near a school, which they said occupied an entire lane.
Residents questioned the traffic arrangements and said that police should have firmed up a better traffic plan before allowing large political gatherings in the centre of the city.
