Protests leave commuters in lurch

Commuters complain that they come to know about suspension of buses only after they wait for long hours in the bus stops due to protests and add that they are forced to take autos and cab services to reach their destination. 

“I boarded an MTC bus from Tiruvottiyur to Tondiarpet. But the conductor, after a while, told me that since there is a political husting in the Tiruvottiyur high road, bus route will be diverted. So, I was forced to get down,” said M Raja of Royapuram. He complained that they faced similar situations in the recent past. 

But what is worse is that even ambulance and other emergency services are also affected due to sudden road blockades or meetings. 

“Traffic diversion is a serious issue for us because we have to admit critical patients in hospital on time. We can even wade through congested roads, but when there is a protest or unannounced gathering, it becomes very difficult,” said an EMLT of 108 ambulance services. 

Certain pockets in the city are notorious for such sudden road blockades. The market place at MGR Nagar is a one such location which is located at the crossroads connecting Ramapuram, KK Nagar and Ashok Nagar. Thousands of office-goers and daily wagers who return in the evening are put through hardship crossing the junction, whenever there is a public meeting, according to locals. 

“Due to poor response to political meetings, the organisers now choose places such as markets where people gather in large numbers to make their meeting a success. But they only earn people’s ire every time. Police should stop giving permission to hold political meetings in busy areas or they should ask for residents’ opinion,” rues Arivazhagan, a resident of Jafferkhanpet. 

When asked, spokespersons of political outfits claim that they do not have enough time to prepare in advance. 

“We sometimes need to hold party’s meeting suddenly in accordance with the political situation and are unable to give advance notice, though we inform the police officials,” said a cadre from MGR Amma Deepa Peravai when asked about the recent gathering of their cadre in T Nagar outside MAD Peravai treasurer Deepa Jayakumar’s house.