Kerala - Kochi   

City slows down to welcome the President

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: With the State Government leaving nothing to chance during President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's visit to the city, Kochiites kept off the road for most of the day.

While the police officials maintained that no traffic was stopped, arterial roads remained relatively deserted during the day.

"We did not block any road. Traffic was diverted at different points to facilitate VVIP movement," said D.S. Suneesh Babu, Circle Inspector, City Traffic (West). Heavy vehicles were stopped from entering M.G. Road and Park Avenue.

The track along which the President's motorcade passed was kept clear of traffic 15 minutes ahead of his arrival, as was mandatory for security reasons.

The traffic restrictions were kept to the minimum to reduce the difficulties caused to the public, said a police officer in charge of the traffic.

However, the merchant community seemed not impressed by the unprecedented drills and high security. "The Broadway market was literally dead during the day," said K.I. Noor Mohammed Mather, president, Ernakulam Merchants' Union.

Even though there were no major traffic blocks, people kept off the road due to the heavy traffic snarls caused on Monday due to repeated trial runs made by the police, he said.

The merchants were caught off-guard by the heavy security cordon. "The security of this level was unprecedented," Mr. Mather said.

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