SRIKAKULAM: The traffic restriction imposed by the authorities for the grand welcome organised for transport and BC welfare minister K Achannaidu put the motorists into inconvenience, in Srikakulam on Monday.
Police officials imposed traffic restrictions in view of the minister’s procession which began from Pydibheemavaram to Srikakulam on Monday.
Since afternoon, the police officials did not allow plying of vehicles through two principal entry-Navabharat Junction and Yerram Naidu Junction- to the city. And people had to enter the city the from Amadalavalasa-Srikakulam bypass. Those who wanted to go towards Visakhapatnam had to travel more than five kilometres to reach Navabharat Junction owing to the restrictions.
Moreover, the Seven Road Junction, the busiest junction in the city, was blocked for the minister’s meeting.
“Restrictions were imposed as we can not control the traffic amid the rally and meeting of the minister,”said a police officials, on the condition of anonymity, admitting that people were put to inconvenience.
Further, the labourers from the adjacent villages who work at various construction sites were stranded for hours at the Seven Road Junction till the meeting was over.
“I reached Seven Road Junction to catch an auto to Etcherla. As the road was closed, I had to walk up to RTC complex to catch another auto to my village,” said a labourer.
As a cascading effect, the bylanes and thoroughfares was jammed with vehicles as people looked for short-cut route to reach their destinations.
“I had to close all the doors and windows of my house for more than two hours as the motorists were honking horns across the street,” said Andhravarapu Rama, a resident of Nanibala Street.
However, the transport minister said that his priority would be to control the road accidents in Srikakulam and he promised uplift of the deprived handloom workers in the district.