Bengaluru: Anticipating traffic jams, candidates told to reach CET centres near Kanteerava early

BENGALURU: The scheduled swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister and his council of ministers in a mammoth function at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in the heart of Bengaluru on Saturday afternoon has set alarm bells ringing among students whose Common Entrance Test (CET) 2023 centres are located in the vicinity of the swearing-in venue.
The three-day CET begins on Saturday afternoon. Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has advised students taking CET at 11 colleges in the city to report by 8.30 am. Even those writing the Maths exam in the afternoon session have been advised to reach the exam centres by 8.30 am. The swearing-in ceremony is slated to begin at 12.30 pm.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided to those who have their exam centres at St Joseph Indian PU College on Vittal Mallya Road, to ensure candidates reach early, in anticipation of huge traffic jams in the area that is too close to the swearing-in venue.
While Congress leadership has assured that all arrangements will be in place to ensure students do not face any delays in reaching centres, BJP has taken a dig at its rivals, citing the Congress brass' objection to PM Narendra Modi's mega poll campaign roadshow in the city that coincided with National Eligibility cum Entrance Test earlier this month.
Day 1 of CET will be held in two sessions: Biology, from 11:30 am to 11:50 am, and Maths from 2:30 pm to 3:50 pm. KEA officials said while St Joseph Indian PU College is right next to the stadium, there are 10 other exam centres within a 2-3 km radius. Ramya, executive director of KEA, assured the authorities have taken appropriate measures to ensure students reach their centres without any delay. She said candidates can seek the help of cops deployed on their routes by displaying their exam centre admission tickets.
Police have advised students who have been assigned St Joseph's Indian PU College on Mallya Hospital Road as their centre, to come to St Mark's Road and Vittal Mallya Road and enter the college from the front side of UB City.
KPCC president DK Shivakumar has issued a statement, saying proper arrangements were being made to ensure students and parents face no inconvenience in reaching the CET centres. "We have spoken to the chief secretary and the education department. Instructions have also been issued to the managements of institutions around Kanteerava Stadium to arrange lunch for students and their parents for the afternoon CET papers," he said.
On Friday, BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh targeted Congress, tagging the previous statement of CM-elect Siddaramaiah criticising Modi's roadshow. "Not many days have passed after our designate CM tweeted this. Tomorrow is CET exams across state & Bengaluru. What would have happened Siddaramaiah & D K Shivakumar if your oath-taking was deferred by a day or two so that students will not be troubled," Santosh tweeted.
The statement found traction among students and parents who urged Congress to defer the swearing-in ceremony. However, with all arrangements in place and invitations having been sent out to several CMs across the country, the party decided to go ahead with Saturday's event.