PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
Dehradun residents faced traffic congestion and subsequent delays on Friday with traffic diversions along with security arrangements being made by police ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s Uttarakhand visit. She is scheduled to attend the Passing out Parade (POP) at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) on Saturday.
The restrictions affected movement on several routes, with commuters reporting longer travel times during the day. Although the administration had issued traffic advisories in advance, many residents complained of inconveniences due to diversions and increased traffic movement near the key areas of the city.
A resident, Sheli Singh said that traffic was heavier than usual because of the President’s visit and the gathering at the IMA. “There was more traffic than is found on a normal day. I got informed about the diversions through television and newspapers beforehand, but my travel time still increased by around 30 minutes to one hour,” she said. Singh further said that better arrangements should be made during the VVIP visits, particularly during the summer months. “Remaining stuck in vehicles in the scorching heat for a long time is difficult,” she added.
Echoing this view, another resident, Nisha Patel said that she had also experienced delay while dropping her children because of the traffic restrictions. “I got a little late due to the traffic logjam,” she said.
The senior superintendent of police (SSP) Pramendra Dobhal appealed to the residents to check the traffic advisory before leaving home and cooperate with the police personnel deployed on duty.
As per the traffic plan, the IMA area will remain a zero zone during the Passing out Parade on June 13 and no traffic will be allowed towards it between 5 AM and 12 noon. Vehicles travelling from Ballupur towards Premnagar will be diverted via Rangadwala and Mithi Beri while traffic coming from Premnagar towards the city will be routed through Mithi Beri Gate and Rangadwala. “The restrictions are necessary to ensure security during the President’s visit,” Dobhal added.
