It is high time our High Court takes Suo-motu cognizance of the repeated traffic mayhem faced by citizens on account of visits by VVIPs to our State.
Thursday 14th October on the eve of Dussehra it was another mega traffic chaos all over on account of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Goa. A mega nightmare faced by the commuting public.
The Supreme Court has clearly ruled that public roads cannot be closed even for the movement of VVIP vehicles. The commuting public should not be inconvenienced while the convoy of the VVIP merrily weaves its way through.
Every visitor to Goa must be given a warm welcome but not at the cost of obstructing the vehicular traffic. Such disruption of normal life is absolutely impermissible. The authorities must ensure that the public do not have to endure traffic chaos during visits by VVIPs.
Closing down roads without making alternative arrangements is in violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to us under Article 14, 19 and 21 of our Constitution. This indiscriminately blocking of key roads should be strongly deprecated with the message loud and clear to the VVIPs that they are not welcome to Goa if it is to create traffic havoc.
We are all entitled to lead our normal lives. Every citizen’s time and respect is as important as that of any VVIP.
