KATHMANDU, March 6: It's not uncommon that roads are blocked and traffic movement is diverted to ease VIP motorcades in the Kathmandu Valley. But, this time it probably was different as Kathmandu folks took a strong exception to traffic jams caused by the VIPs motorcades.
A video has gone viral on Twitter since yesterday and it shows enraged people bulldozing the instructions of the traffic personnel not to ply their vehicles on the road during the presidential convoy.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari was going to Nepal Army Headquarters, Bhadrakali from her official residence Sheetal Niwas, Maharajgunj to attend a reception hosted to mark Nepal Army Day. The presidential convoy forced hundreds of public and private vehicles as well as commuters to remain stuck on the Sheetalniwas-Ratnapark-Sundhara road section for half an hour.
Motorists' civil disobedience against VIP motorcade
The traffic movement in Ratnapark, Sundhara, Maharajgunj, Tripureshwor, Naxal and Baluwatar was totally affected due to the presidential convoy from 6 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday.
यहाँबाट रास्ट्रपतिको सवारी हुँदै थियो। ४० मिनेट देखि ट्राफिकले रोकेर राखीरहेका थिए।
त्यतिकैमा एक जना मानिस अाजित हुदै बोले, 'यो बाटो राष्ट्रपति भन्दा जनताको धेरै हो, राष्ट्रपतिलाई त हामीले बनाएका हौ।' सबैले 'हो हो' भन्दै आफ्नो सवारी साधन अघि बढाए, बाँकी भिडियोमा।
V: Kamal Bista pic.twitter.com/kIeb3rCN96
— चित्र-शब्द (@picwrds) March 5, 2019
Enraged by the halt, motorcyclists and commuters bulldozed their vehicles despite traffic police personnel trying to stop their vehicles on the roads during the presidential convoy.
The traffic movement in Ratnapark, Sundhara, Maharajgunj, Tripureshwor, Naxal and Baluwatar was totally affected due to the presidential convoy from 6 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday.
Such culture has added to the bane of Kathmandu folks because they could get stuck on the road anywhere at any time of the day or night.
Afer the video went viral on social media on Tuesday, Twitteraties have been suggesting the president to learn the lesson.
शीतल निवास र सिंहदरवारका व्यवस्थापकहरूले अब पनि पाठ नसिक्ने ? https://t.co/P0bNup5Gx7
— SUDHEER SHARMA (@sudheerktm) March 5, 2019
People power! When those in power are blind, people decide to take back the power. https://t.co/xNmFQLoABq
— Subhash Ghimire (@subhash580) March 5, 2019
It’s highly debated if clearing the roads for VIP motorcades is really necessary. It is true that VIPs are important persons of the country because they shoulder more responsibilities than the ordinary citizens and therefore, they need a special security system for protection. But is blocking the roads for public the only alternative?
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