BHOPAL: The Bhopal police have still barricaded 35 squares and trisections of the city. These areas have either been shut partially or totally, even when the lockdown has been lifted. This is now leading to chaos and traffic jams all around. However, the police officials claim that these roads will be closed on the district administrationís orders.
As the crowds on the roads have begun to surge now, these barricades are only leading to congestion.
The Old City areas have over 20 barricaded squares. On the other hand, there is still a force of 1,000 cops to check for masks, social distancing and helmets on drivers and this is also a reason for traffic jams.
The residents say that, since the lockdown has been lifted, the roads should at least be cleared since social distancing norms are breached due to traffic jams.
They say that the cops should not put barricades along half the breadth of the roads as this, too, is causing trouble. The roads should either be totally closed or open, but half-barricading is not fair to vehicular traffic, says a bike-borne youth, Naresh Singh.
The police officials say that the curfew has been lifted, but still vehicular traffic movement must be checked and the barricades will remain erected for that. The areas where these barricades are still intact are Royal Market, Shahjahanabad, Jahangirabad, Rachna Nagar, Anna Nagar, Habibganj underpass, near the RRL Trisection, and others.
Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Rajesh Singh says, ìWeíll have to close the roads on Saturday and Sunday, as curfew will be clamped on these two days; so, we havenít removed the barricades.î He says that the barricades will be shifted from the roads to allow commuters to pass smoothly so that no traffic congestion occurs.
