Farmers Movement Archive

Protests mark Bharat Bandh; traffic hit in parts of Bengaluru

BENGALURU: The Bharat Bandh called by farmers’ organisations on Tuesday caused minimal disruption in the city. No untoward incidents were reported. No arrests were made though police took some protesters into preventive custody and let them off later. Hundreds of protesters took out rallies from Town Hall and Freedom Park, and gathered at Mysore Bank Circle around 1pm. They dispersed after having lunch on the road as a token of resentment against the Centre’s farm laws. The ever-busy Kempegowda Road was free of vehicular movement as police had diverted traffic at Hudson Circle. “Restriction of vehicles on KG Road helped in two ways — there were no traffic jams and the wide stretch could shelter the protesters, who showed up in thousands,” a senior police officer told TOI. Traffic was restored on the road after 4pm. Expressway packed due to morning airport rushIn the morning, roads leading to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), the expressway from Hebbal in particular, saw more traffic than usual. “Knowing that traffic in and around the city would be affected during the bandh, passengers who had booked tickets for Tuesday reached the airport in the morning itself. As a result, the expressway traffic flow towards the airport was relaxed later in the day,” police said. Despite diversions, there were traffic hold-ups at KR Circle and Hudson Circle. “Since we had to close down KG Road, two-way traffic was allowed on Nrupathunga Road, which is a one way. As a result, traffic from Police Corner to Urvashi Theatre junction near Lalbagh west gate was affected,” a senior traffic police officer said, adding, “There was slow movement of vehicles at KR Market, JC Road and Chamarajpet Main Road due to the bandh.”

The Times of India

2020-12-09

Bengaluru