Last evening a convoy driving into the city had traffic stopped in both directions for at least 15 minutes on Mysore Road. I was waiting near the end of the flyover, headed out of the city and was wondering what in the world was the reason, until I saw some 5 vehicles of a convoy zoom into the city on the other side of the road.
I thought only a few had this 'free ride' privilege (VVIPs such as CM, Governor, PM and a select few 'high-risk' personalities). I also remember media reports way back when then CM, SM Krishna had asked City Police not to stop traffic for him, unless it was really warranted.
Of late I seem to get stuck in one of those stop-traffic incidents almost once every other day. Did we see an explosion of VVIPs or who gets to be called VVIPs?
I sent an email out to ACP (Mr Sood) asking who gets the free ride and how often does it happen in Bangalore. Let us see if we hear anything back from him.
Ravi
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Comments
Blood Boiling!
Getting stuck in a Traffic jam waiting for a convoy to pass makes my blood boil! Unless its the CM, PM or Preseident I dont see why any other "VIP" needs a convoy. If they travel like "Normal" Human beings maybe they will realise why we are raising such a hue and cry about the traffic. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone hurled a shoe at the convoy!
How does one stop this? Does anyone know what the Law States - and for whom the traffic can be stopped? I am sure it isnt for every man in a white shirt and white car with a red beacon!
I remeber sometime back. Deve Gowda was running late to catch a flight (this is when he wasnt in power), and so he made a few calls and traffic was stopped from Nelamangala to HAL Airport for him!!! And on top of that after making it on time a SI is suspended for not stopping traffic at a junction!
I've always wondered why MLAs cant set an example by using Busses. A special MLA service can be created to shuttle between Vidhan Soudha and the Legislator homes/CMs home...etc.
Another option was to build a lot of Helipads around the City so Mr.CM can heli hop and get around. It maybe a bigger burden on the Tax Payer but may work out more convenient.
Narayan Gopalan
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
User Interaction Designer
Bangalore
I agree. I hate it when
Most times the traffic is stopped during peak hours when people are rushing to office. If Mr Sood doesn't reply can we use RTI to get info on which VIPs convoys can stop traffic and who cannot. And all details of traffic being stopped for VIPs over last few months?
I can see a reason...
....if the issue involves security. But then, the entourage better plan ahead and choose a low-traffic period whenever practical.
But using this privilege for non-security reason is a different matter altogether. With all due respect, I don't believe a single official's (or politician's) time cannot be worth more than the sum total of an time wasted for thosands of other commuters.
A simple guesstimate. Let us say the convoy passes 5 major junctions along its route, and at each major junction we delay 250 working age adults for 15 minutes on the average. That is in effect 5 x 250 x 15/60 = 312.5 man-hours lost. Let us say the convoy's travel time improved by 30 minutes (0.5 man-hour). Does that mean the official's time is worth 625 times the average working age adult? If an average adult is worth say Rs 10,000/- per month (taking salary as a measure), this is like saying the official is worth 62,50,000/- per month! Now this does not consider the ripple effect caused by such a disruption during peak traffic, or the direct and indirect costs involved in mobilizing the police force.
I'm sure our Praja geeks will be able to produce better and more accurate numbers, but above should put this practice in to a perspective.
Thanks,
Ravi