Pune: BJP’s Tiranga Yatra on FC Road on Tuesday had a ripple effect on the traffic in parts of the city, made worse by diversions. Common people remained stranded amid rain in vehicular gridlock that saw ambulances struggling to make their way through.Local resident Dr Mandar Paranjpe called the rally held on a weekday afternoon in the heart of the city “inappropriate and unfair,” given the already degrading traffic situation in the city. “I accept the nationalistic fervour, but it could have been planned on a Sunday or a holiday — not a weekday. The congestion spread across 10 sqkm to 15 sqkm, blocking several important roads.”He said five ambulances were stuck around SB Road and Model Colony. “This is just one example. School buses and other emergencies may have been affected in different parts of the city. Traffic police should have advised BJP against holding it on a weekday. The disruption of regular movement could have been avoided and manpower needed to manage it put to better use,” Paranjpe said.NCP corporator Amol Balwadkar shared the video of an ambulance with its siren on trying to weave through a traffic jam. He took to social media and questioned the planning of the Tiranga rally, asking whether adequate arrangements had been made to allow ambulances to pass through the roads closed for the event. He said it was important the rally reached its destination on time, but it was equally crucial to ensure that patients could reach hospitals without delay.PMC corporator Prashant Jagtap of Congress said, “Everyone is a patriot, but a show should not come at the cost of citizens’ convenience. It would have been better if the organisers had undertaken something constructive for the city. The rally appears to be a diversion from the Gen Z protests at Jantar Mantar. We demand that the BJP apologise to Pune’s people held ransom by the traffic chaos.”AAP politician Mukund Kirdat said it was ironic to celebrate the Tricolour, a symbol of freedom, while blocking the way of residents. “Rain has already brought back potholes, traffic jams, waterlogging and displacement of residents from flooded homes. If the ruling parties had worked to solve these problems, instead of causing a massive traffic jam, they would have earned citizens’ respect and not their ire,” he said.Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Sandeep Bhajibhakare told TOI: “The vehicular movement on SB Road, Ganeshkhind Road, JM Road, Karve Road and the old parts of the city was affected since FC Road was closed for the Tiranga rally. Moreover, traffic was halted on SB Road to allow VIP movement. We had issued an advisory and the roads were closed as decided,” he added.(With input from Gitesh Shelke)
