“I was expected to reach New Road from my Putalisadak office in one hour,” said Bogati. “But, I got stuck in traffic jam for two hours.”[break]
Even on Wednesday, the traffic situation was no better. As ruling parties took out rallies and organized a mass gathering in Tundikhel, people like Bogati were left with no options but to fret on the roads for hours. “Frequent traffic jams are making life difficult for us working people,” shared Bogati.
Like Talak, Rabin Ghimire suffered due to the Wednesday´s jam. When Ghimire, who is applying to study abroad, left home, he was unaware of the jams. “I could not meet the person I needed to meet,” shared Ghimire. “By the time I reached his office, he had already left.” Now, Ghimire will have to wait one whole week to meet the person.
The Valley residents have been facing multiple problems due to traffic jams caused by protests and gatherings organized every other day by one organization or the other. Traffic disruptions during these programs result in choked roads, affecting the commuters.
Ironically, all the parties who organize such rallies claim that they are doing it for the sake of people.
“We are doing it for the people,” said Madhav Dhungel, president of All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), student wing of the CPN (UML). “We don´t like to cause traffic jams. But, we have to do it to help break the political deadlock.”
“I know that people have to put up with difficulties during such programs,” said Ghanshyam Neupane, general secretary of student wing of Rastriya Janamorcha*. “But, we are left with no alternative.”
DSP Pawan Giri, spokesperson of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, says that they have a tough time managing the traffic when political parties take to the streets.
“Of late, the streets have become a theater for every organization to show their strength or dissatisfaction,” he said. “We can´t manage the traffic flow in such situations even by using more manpower.”
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