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A day of jams, diversions

Staff Reporter

Bush security, anti-Bush rally throw traffic out of gear in Delhi

SAVING GRACE: On a day of traffic chaos Delhi Metro provided some relief to harried commuters. Here is the scene at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station on Thursday. Photo: V.V. Krishnan

NEW DELHI: The massive security arrangements for the hectic daylong itinerary of the visiting US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura saw Delhiites caught in innumerable traffic jams and long diversions across the city on Thursday, particularly during the morning rush hour. Life was made even more difficult for the commuters by the anti-Bush rally at Ramlila Grounds and the subsequent march to Jantar Mantar by the protestors.

As a result, most roads in Lutyens' Delhi, Ramlila Grounds, Rajghat and ITO saw traffic snarls throughout the day. Office-goers and students, particularly those appearing at their Class X Board examinations, had a tough time reaching their destinations on time.

Offices in and around places like Connaught Place, ITO and Chanakyapuri reported thin attendance, while a majority of those trying to reach their offices were late.

"I had to return home as security personnel deployed at Barakhamba Road did not allow my car towards my office in Connaught Place. As all roads in the area were choked with vehicles, I decided to go back home," said Gautam Negi, a government employee.

Areas around Maurya Sheraton (where the US President is staying), India Gate (where he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Hyderabad House) and Rajghat (where he went to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi) remained out of bound during the official programme of the visiting dignitary. The movement of the VVIP cavalcade had a cascading effect on traffic in these areas.

The situation was worsened by the protest rally taken out by the Left and the Samajwadi Party at Ramlila Grounds as well as at Jantar Mantar.

Even the traffic police advisory asking people to avoid the routes leading to India Gate, Rajghat and Connaught Place did not help much.

However, Delhi Metro turned out to be the day's saving grace as those moving in and out of the central business district of Connaught Place used the tube to avoid long traffic jams. Metro trains running on both the CP-Barakhamba and CP-Delhi University lines ran packed all through the day.

Similarly, the US First Lady's visit to the Film City in neighbouring Noida in the afternoon saw the busy Noida Toll Bridge, considered a crucial link between South Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida, being closed for some time, causing grave inconvenience to motorists.

Laura Bush's visit to an observation home for children at Tughlakhabad Institutional Area and Missionaries of Charity in South Delhi also led to diversions and jams in the area.

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