Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Heavy traffic mismanagement and chaos was witnessed on the first day of Global Investors Summit as both delegates and local commuters faced difficulties in reaching to their destinations.
Many delegates and participants had to walk several kilometres to reach the GIS venue and then returning to their designated parking in the evening.
Despite diversions and alternate routes, heavy traffic jam was witnessed on the routes which were to be used by the delegations to reach Manav Sangrahalay. The traffic jam which started at around 8 am in the morning prevailed for over an hour. The delegates got stuck in the jam at the Depot Crossing as traffic flow was heavier from the direction of New Market, Jahwahar Chowk, Smart City and P&T. Long queue of vehicles stuck in traffic jam was also witnessed at Bhadbhada Crossing.
The situation prevailed despite Traffic Police making claims of ensuring foolproof arrangements to handle the massive traffic flow which was expected at the GIS.
Over 1200 traffic cops were deployed to maintain vehicular movement and rehearsals were being carried out multiple times ahead of the summit.
The commuters claimed that around two kilometres long queue of vehicles were witnessed on the Smart City Hospital, Jawahar Chowk and P&T route to Depot Crossing since 8 am. Traffic cops struggled to maintain vehicular movement and released the traffic of each route at intervals to end the traffic chaos. Attempts to take the vehicles of the delegates and guests from wrong side escalated the problem and the usual commuters were also stuck in the jam.
Traffic Officials claimed that Smart City route was not to be used by the guests and delegates to reach GIS venue. However, many of them used this route which increased the traffic flow towards Depot Crossing from 8 to 9 am. However, the situation was soon controlled and the routes were cleared, he added.
The same situation prevailed at the GIS venue in the evening where vehicles got stuck for over an hour on the routes when the summit concluded for the day. The delegates and guests returning from the summit were seen walking several kilometres to reach to their designated parking. Moreover, the drivers of many traveller vehicles and SUVs who were from outside got confused and lost their way back to the hotels which added to the problem.
