The event organised by the state government named ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ held at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad on Oct 27 created a ruckus and traffic congestion in the city.

On a busy working weekday in Ahmedabad, commuters faced congestion and city bus shortages due to a state-backed event at the riverfront.

The Ahmedabad police closed the movements on the east and west riverfront roads after 12 p.m. on Oct 27. This created a chaotic traffic jam on Ashram Road during the peak hours of the evening.

Political pressure on police?

The fumed citizens resented the decision to organise a government programme on a weekday, while the Ahmedabad traffic police reportedly raised a concern that they were obliged to approve the programme due to ‘political pressure’.

When the papers came for approval of the programme at the riverfront event centre, the traffic officials suggested the government organise the programme near the Ognaj area or any other place with fewer traffic congestion possibilities. 

However, due to ‘political pressure’, the Ahmedabad police had to approve the programme at the riverfront event centre, which led to traffic problems in the evening.

Govt assets for public used by the government

The public bus service AMTS (Amdavad Municipal Transport Service) for citizens was used by the government in the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ programme.

A total of 311 AMTS buses were used, 8-10 from each ward, for the guests arriving at the event.

The daily commuters of the AMTS had to suffer relatively higher conveyance on that day.

Around 160 corporators from 48 wards were allotted the duties of gathering a maximum number of people at the event from different wards and managing the parking facilities for the guests.

Most of the municipal staff were allotted duties at the event, due to which the municipal offices may also have witnessed a shortage of officials.

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