Taxpayers suffer in traffic jam as PM’s convoy crosses in Patna

Today, people in Patna had a tough time. The Prime Minister’s convoy was passing through the city. Because of this, all the roads were closed for more than an hour. This happened on Bailey Road, from Dak Bungalow Chouraha to Patna Airport.

It was morning and everyone was going to their offices. But because of the road closure, everyone was stuck. People were standing with their vehicles. Some were on foot. They were not allowed to cross the roads.

The day was very hot. The high temperature made the situation worse. People were feeling uncomfortable. They were helpless and frustrated.

There were also some ambulances stuck in the traffic. They had patients who were in critical condition. But they could not move because of the road closure.

This is not the first time something like this has happened. In our country, there have been many times when common people had to face problems because of VIP movements. Roads are closed, traffic is diverted, and normal life is disrupted. All this happens when a minister’s convoy is passing.

In our country, everyone is supposed to be equal. But these incidents make people question this. The taxpayers, who are the backbone of our economy, are the ones who suffer. Their daily lives are disrupted and their time is wasted.

It is time for us to think about this issue. We need to find a balance between the security needs of our leaders and the rights of our citizens. After all, in a democracy, the people are the real VIPs.

We need to remember that our strength lies in our unity, our patience, and our resilience. We need to raise our voices against such disruptions. We should not do this in anger or frustration but with the hope of bringing about change.

Senior traffic police officers in Patna said that they had deployed additional personnel on routes where traffic was restricted due to the passing of the Prime Minister's convoy. However, the experiences of the city's commuters painted a different picture.

One commuter shared his ordeal of being stuck in traffic while driving from Dak Bungalow Chouraha to Boring Road. "It took me over an hour to cover that stretch. Bailey Road was also choked. For a long time, vehicles were at a standstill. People could barely make it on time for office meetings or any appointments," he said.

Another commuter, who was driving from another part of the city to Patna Junction, expressed his frustration at missing his train. "I had left my house around 9 am but I could only make it to the station by 10:30 am. It took me a long time. The traffic arrangements were bad," he added.

While there isn't specific data on the frequency of such incidents, numerous reports have emerged about disruptions caused by VIP movements in India. For instance, in January 2023, office-goers traveling from east Delhi to central and south Delhi areas had a difficult time due to VIP movement in central Delhi on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary. 

Similarly, in November 2017, many passengers were left stranded at the New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, as at least 13 flights were diverted and many others were delayed due to VIP movement. In Hyderabad, frequent VIP movements have been reported to disrupt city traffic, causing long waits and health issues in the scorching heat. 

Within a week, at the GMR Hyderabad Airport, four flights were diverted - three due to VIP movement and one due to adverse weather conditions. These incidents underscore the need for a balance between the security needs of our leaders and the rights and convenience of the citizens.

The inconvenience caused to taxpayers due to such disruptions must be minimized. These accounts highlight the inconvenience faced by the citizens of Patna due to the disruptions caused by VIP movements. It underscores the need for better traffic management during such events to ensure minimal inconvenience to the public.

In the end, it is not just about a single day’s disruption or a single convoy’s passage. It is about the larger question of our rights as citizens and the respect for our time and our lives. And it is a question that demands an answer.

The city is trying to get back to normal after the traffic problems. But people are still asking when things will get better for everyone, not just the important people. They hope that in the future, there will be a better way to handle these situations.