LUCKNOW: The protest march by students of Lucknow University and its associated colleges from Bappa Shri Narain College (KKV) till LU main gate on Thursday caused heavy traffic jams on the entire stretch and nearby localities.
Demanding revival of student union elections, the students started their march from KKV at 11.30am and left commuters stranded all along the way till they reached Lucknow University at around 1.30pm.
Commuters had a harrowing time as the protesting students blocked the traffic, starting from Station Road, Burlington crossing, Vidhan Sabha Marg, Hazratganj and till University Road as they covered the 14 km distance in their two-hour march in the afternoon. The areas which have already been facing traffic bottlenecks due to Metro construction barricading saw commuters grappling to find a way out of the jams.
Prithvi Sinha, employee of a hotel on way to work, said, "Why do we commuters have to suffer all the time? Whatever be the nature and reason for protest, we end up in trouble, caught in jam and wasting our precious time. Why can't the district administration and police tackle such protests so that the common man does not suffer."
"I was stuck in jam twice even though I changed the route twice and got late reaching railway station. I would have certainly missed my train had it not been delayed," said Ankush Shukla, a BBA student heading home.
Raman Singh, a teacher stuck in jam on Station road, said, "Every second day there is a protest in the city. I don't know why people are so fond of protesting. There are other ways of raising demands and getting one's voice heard. Traffic police always fails in tackling the situation."
"I am anxiously waiting for
Lucknow Metro. At least, I won't get caught in these traffic jams on the road and avoid embarrassment of reaching late," he added.