Step taken to ease consistent traffic jams in city
Friday, 11 OCTOBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In a significant move to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance public convenience, the Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal has banned protests, processions, rallies and parades at six of the Dehradun city’s busiest intersections. This decision comes after years of demand from senior citizens, women and various social groups, who had been voicing concerns about how such events disrupted essential services and daily life. Bansal said that the frequent protests and rallies at key junctions in the city often led to severe traffic jams, particularly affecting the surrounding areas. These disruptions not only caused inconvenience to commuters but also interfered with essential services, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among the public. He said that the decision was taken after a thorough discussion with the Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh.
Such activities have now been restricted at six major intersections, including Ghantaghar, Gandhi Park, Astley Hall Chowk, Darshan Lal Chowk, Tehsil Chowk and Buddha Chowk. These areas, known for heavy traffic, will no longer host protests, rallies, or parades, ensuring smoother traffic flow and minimising disruptions for the general public. Bansal further informed that for political or organisational marches, such as those directed towards the Secretariat, the gathering will now take place outside Parade Ground near Doonga House, from where the procession will proceed via Kanak Chowk and Pacific Tiraha. In cases where the march is headed towards the Raj Bhawan or the Chief Minister’s residence, it will be halted at Pacific Tiraha itself. He said that special permissions and guidelines will be enforced for traditional and religious processions.
The district administration, in collaboration with the police and traffic departments, will establish a framework to determine appropriate times, routes and participant numbers for such events. The DM said that this decision is a step toward prioritising public convenience, while also balancing the rights of organisations to hold peaceful demonstrations.
