Bhopal: Despite traffic diversions and restrictions in place for the cabinet expansion of the newly formed Congress government, commuters had a tough time on Tuesday. Politicians, party functionaries, officials, businessmen and media persons were among others who had made a beeline to Raj Bhawan where the ceremony was scheduled. Heavy traffic congestion was noticed in and around the Governor House including at interactions near Aquarium, Raj Bhavan, Minto Hall, MVM College, Police Control Room, Directorate of Public Relations (Roshanpura), polytechnic Square, KN Pradhan Square.
Hundreds of vehicles parked on roads leading to the venue threw the traffic out of gear. Due to traffic congestion, commuters had to take longer routes to reach their destination. Traffic snarls were witnessed from Roshanpura to Police Control Room routes, Banganga to Aquarium routes, Lower Lake route, MLA Guest House, etc. There was tremendous traffic pressure on subsidiary routes due to vehicle diversion.
Even as the Raj Bhavan was totally barricaded, visitors who had come to attend the function had parked their SUVs, cars and other vehicles on the road sides throwing traffic out of gear. Heavy police force was deployed at KN Pradhan Square, Roshanpura Square, Malviya Nagar Trisection, MLA Guest House(Malviya Nagar), Rajbhavan (Roshanpura to police control room) at Aquarium Trisection near Raj Bhavan to guide the invitees and guest toward Raj Bhavan after verification of their passes.
Entry of vehicle was totally restricted at KN Pradhan Square, Raj Bhavan (Roshanpura to Police Control Room side) so commuters had to take long routes to reach the destinations. Authorities had allotted specific parking lots to the visitors including the to-be ministers. Invitees were made to park their vehicles at MVM Ground, the Minto Hall was reserved for MLAs.
Supporters of ministers had come in large numbers so their SUVs and cars added pressure in traffic. Vehicles’ queues were witnessed on road side from Raj Bhavan to polytechnic Square, Ravindra Bhavan, DPR, Malviya Nagar, Lower Lake side. Malviya Nagar, Professor Colony, 45-Bunglows and other areas witnessed huge traffic rush. Ret Ghat, Polytechnic Square, Roshanpura, Link Road no- 1, Sabban Chowraha, Jinsy, Maida Mills were opened for normal traffic but these routes were much longer routes for commuters.
