Men in black hold up Bangalore traffic

As traffic jams sparked by advocates’ protest tested the patience of commuters in buses and cars and forced others less patient to trudge miles to their destination, city traffic police flashed the victory sign.

According to them, even as the city police failed to maintain law and order at the protest venue, traffic police could manage vehicular movement well due to advance information system in place.

“It took us a few minutes to manage the traffic situation on the affected stretch as we diverted the traffic inflow by alerting road users through SMS, VMS and even radio service,” said additional commissioner of police (traffic and safety) MA Saleem.

“The city police are capable of handling any situation as we are equipped with the alternative routes diversion plan ready to be implemented during any crisis,” he said.

With about 19,000 mobile phone users subscribing to the SMS service of the traffic police, the latter could keep them informed about traffic diversions in advance on Tuesday.

Moreover, the variable message system (VMS), installed at all major junctions kept scrolling updates on traffic diversions and alternative routes.

“This apart, FM radio and BMTC services coordinated well with the traffic police to help us manage the traffic better,” he said.

“We immediately informed about the situation to BMTC officials and they began plying their vehicles through alternative routes to reduce traffic jams,” he added.

However, despite the quick action taken by the city traffic police, vehicles were moving at a snail’s pace around Mysore Bank circle. In fact, there were jams up to Vidhana Soudha on Dr Ambedkar Veedi, Anand Rao Circle on Sheshadri Road, and Chalukya junction on Palace Road.

The entire stretches of JC Road, City Market area, Avenue Road and KG Road were clogged with vehicles.

To lessen the congestion, vehicles from southern and eastern parts of the city were routed through Cubbon Park roads to Majestic, Saleem said.