Parivarthana rally plunges Tumakuru Road into chaos

BENGALURU: The launch of BJP's Parivarthana rally on Thursday created massive traffic jams in the northern belt of Bengaluru, especially Tumakuru Road, the elevated Nelamangala expressway, Madanayakanahalli Main Road, the entryexit of NICE Peripheral Ring Road, Nelamangala bypass and junction of Vishwashanti Ashram, Yeshwantpur and Outer Ring Road stretch between Ballari Road and Goraguntepalya.At least six ambulances were stuck between Nelamangala bypass and Goraguntepalya.Though heavy vehicles, including goods trucks, were banned from entering Tumakuru Road from Madavara junction towards the city , goods vehicles and trucks leaving Bengaluru were stuck in a bumperto-bumper crawl on Nelamangala expressway and Tumakuru Road.
A Davanagere resident accompanying his 22-year-old sister Shreya (name changed) who was down with dengue, in an ambulance, said they were stuck for more than 90 minutes near Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) where the BJP meet was going on.
“We wanted to reach hospital as early as possible and as advised by the doctor, booked an ambulance to reach Sagar Hospital in Tilaknagar, near Jayanagar, South Bengaluru. My sister's condition deteriorated as the ambulance could not move in the traffic,“ he told TOI, adding, “While it took only three hours to reach Nelamangala from Davanagere, it took us more than two hours to reach the hospital from Nelamangala. What if ambulances with accident victims or serious patients get held up like this?“ Bengaluru city police had a tough time managing the motorcycle-borne BJP activists heading to the venue. The bikers did not follow lane discipline, ending in chaos on Outer Ring Road, Yeshwantpur, and Jalahalli Cross.
“Initially, we directed the motorbikes into a single lane with two bikes moving together. Sadly, none of them followed directions. They were all over the main carriageway as well as the service road.Footpath riding, signal jumping, riding in the wrong direction on one-ways were a common sight on Thursday morning," traffic police said.
Chaos reigned on Tumakuru Road on either side of the venue, till afternoon, and also at the second toll gate on Nelamangala flyover. Motorists said they had to queue up for at least 30 minutes before reaching the toll gate.