BENGALURU: A traffic jam occurred on Old Airport Road after traffic was allegedly halted for nearly 30 minutes to facilitate the governor’s convoy, according to a post on X. The disruption, compounded by ongoing underpass construction, left hundreds of commuters stranded.Public anger intensified after a man travelling with his pregnant wife was caught in the gridlock and sat in the middle of the road to protest against VIP culture. Other motorists also criticised the police for prioritising VIP movement over public convenience and questioned the handling of traffic restrictions.Based on the video that went viral, the traffic police have initiated an inquiry. However, the police maintained that there is hardly any possibility of stopping vehicles for 30 minutes.A video posted by an X account named @Prajvalprince around 12.13 pm stated: “Old Airport Road is already choking under underpass construction. Today, traffic was completely halted for nearly 30 minutes due to the Governor’s movement. A man travelling with his pregnant wife was stuck in the gridlock. When will public convenience matter as much as VIP convenience?”The video shows a man sitting on the zebra crossing near the ISRO Junction and arguing with the police, saying that his wife is pregnant and that his vehicle had been stopped at the signal while the governor had not even left HAL Airport. After an argument with the traffic police on duty, and after the traffic police alerted the Hoysala police, the man got up from the road and made way for the Governor’s movement.In the video, the man sitting on the road does not mention where he was taking his wife, but netizens and unconfirmed reports state that he was taking her to a hospital and that there were no alternative routes available.The incident has reignited the debate over VIP culture and the inconvenience caused to ordinary citizens in the name of security arrangements. Commuters questioned whether the safety and convenience of dignitaries should come at the expense of public welfare, particularly in emergencies involving patients and pregnant women.Residents and motorists criticised the authorities for imposing restrictions on a stretch already narrowed by underpass construction without ensuring adequate alternative traffic arrangements. Many, including prominent personalities, expressed their anger on social media, accusing the traffic police of failing to balance security requirements with the needs of the public.A senior officer said, “An inquiry has been ordered into the allegations made online. An Assistant Commissioner of Police is inquiring into the issue. The incident happened on Sunday afternoon within the jurisdiction of Jeevan Bhima Nagar Traffic Police Station. We are verifying CCTV footage from HAL Airport to the location where the man protested on the road. If vehicles were stopped for 30 minutes, necessary action will be taken,” the officer said.When TOI contacted the Governor office reaction there were unavailable for comment.
Is the current system addressing the needs of patients and pregnant women during traffic congestion?
