BENGALURU: Chief Minister’s convoy was stopped to give right of way to an ambulance. Yes, you are reading it right. In a first, perhaps, the city traffic police went out of their way and just did that on Sunday evening.
This act comes after the traffic police drew flak for stopping ambulances to let VIP convoys pass at least twice this month.
Around 5pm, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah landed at HAL Old Airport and the convoy was heading to his official residence ‘Krishna’. While passing Suranjandas Road junction, an ambulance of Hosmat Hospital carrying a critical patient was allowed to pass after an alert was sent to the staff of the convoy by senior traffic officers.
A senior traffic officer said that they followed the motto that an ambulance in genuine hurry gets preference and took necessary measures.
This is in stark contrast to what happened on May 4 when the police stopped traffic to allow Siddaramaiah’s convoy pass near Town Hall. An ambulance was stuck in the jam then. Soon after the incident led to a hue and cry, Siddaramaiah issued orders not to stop ambulances to make way for his convoy.
On May 8, an ambulance carrying a patient was stopped near the KPCC office on Queen’s Road even after Home Minister G Parameshwara’s convoy left the place.