Traffic regulation during Mahanadu a Herculean task 

VISAKHAPATNAM: A major challenge lies ahead for the city police with Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) Mahanadu round the corner. Most of the junctions, especially, Maddilapalem, Siripuram and the narrow roads leading to the venue have become a headache for the minder of the traffic as heavy traffic movement is obvious during the three-day Mahanadu, which might spell troubles for the motorists and the denizens as well.

The TDP public meeting held at Andhra University Engineering College grounds for distribution of pattas to beneficiaries in February this year kept the traffic police on tenterhooks, as heavy traffic  snarls were witnessed during the event in which around 50,000 people took part. 

During the programme, all the buses including those carrying the beneficiaries were allowed through the Maddilapalem, one of the busiest junctions in the city, and traffic remained choked for several hours The incident also drew a flak from the citizens. 

Learning lessons, the police higher-ups are now formulating an action plan to prevent the repeat of the situations in February. According to the officials, all the buses ferrying the TDP cadre will be routed to the Mahanadu venue through Siripuram-Pedawaltair route. They won’t be allowed on the NH-16.

“Buses coming from Srikakulam are being diverted through the Beach Road and then to the venue via Waltair, while the vehicles from the Anakapalle-Tuni route will reach the venue via Siripuram, not through the NH-16,” said a police officer. 

However, the pass-holders and vehicles of VIPs, VVIPs, which all together could be around 5,000, will be coming through Maddilapalem gate, which could lead to traffic congestions as the vehicles would be stopped during the VIP movement.

“We suggest people try mostly to avoid the Waltair-III Town police station-Siripuram route and also Rama Talkies-Maddilapalem route during the Mahanadu. Ramatalkies-Satyam route can be taken if they want to come to Maddilapalem. These routes are expected to have a lot of restrictions, but we do not want to people to suffer. Instead, they can use the other routes,” said additional deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) K Mahendra Patrudu, seeking cooperation from the citizens. 

Meanwhile, common vehicles will not be allowed in the Maddilapalem-Waltair AU route on all the three days. No vehicle is allowed to park at Maddilapalem, Resuvanipalem and Automotive route. According to senior police officer, the major challenge here could be handling the VIP movement during their arrival and departure and parking of vehicles. 

“The Mahanadu is scheduled to start at 10.30 am on May 27 and the vehicle movement may start by 7 am. During the arrival of VIPs, the traffic will be disrupted. Things may go awry, if a number of VIPs or buses arrive simultaneously. Parking might be a major issue,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

Keeping these situations in view, around 700 police will be deployed on traffic duty for the three days. According to police officers, traffic police are divided into 33 sectors of which 12 will work in two shifts and 20 in a single shift. One shift will work in night. 

The traffic police are being deployed from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and a few other districts.
A command control room is being set up exclusively for the programme. Eight towing vehicles will pick up the vehicles parked in ‘No-parking zones’. Around 30 body worn cameras, 200 stoppers, 200 walkie-talkies and mega phones will be used for monitoring too.

Arrangements  Buses ferrying TDP cadre  to be routed to the venue through 
Siripuram-Pedawaltair route, in stead of through NH-16
Buses from Srikakulam to be diverted through Beach Road to the venue via Waltair 
Vehicles from Anakapalle-Tuni route to reach the venue via Siripuram 
Pass-holders and vehicles of VIPs, VVIPs to enter AU through Maddilapalem gate 
Command control room to be set up exclusively for Mahandu 
Eight towing vehicles, 
30 body worn cameras, 
200 stoppers, 200 walkie-talkies and mega phones to be used for traffic monitoring 
5,000 
Expected vehicles of pass holders and VIPs 
35,000
Participants expected for Mahanadu 
700 
Police personnel to be deployed on traffic duty