Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah rejects zero-traffic facility

BENGALURU: Chief minister Siddaramaiah has decided to do away with zero traffic corridors for him and his convoy when he travels in Karnataka. In doing so, he has set an example to his deputy DK Shivakumar and cabinet colleagues to avoid taking the ‘privilege’ accorded to VVIPs, robbing ministership of some of its “glamour”.
In a tweet on Sunday, Siddaramaiah said: “I have asked the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner to take back the Zero-Traffic’ protocol for my vehicular movement.I have taken the decision after seeing problems faced by the people traveling along the stretch where there are restrictions due to ‘zero-traffic’ (sic). ”
CMO officials said the decision was prompted after Siddaramaiah witnessed serious traffic jams while travelling from his official residence on Race Course Road to Manchenhalli Road in Yelahanka to attend his grandson Dhawan Rakesh’s graduation ceremony.
“The CM was miffed that people were forced to wait in the sun while his cavalcade made its way through the 20km route. It created a bad impression, and so he decided to do away with the privilege,” said an official.
After returning from the ceremony, Siddaramaiah reportedly summoned the police commissioner and spoke to him. Traffic police sources say Siddaramaiah is perhaps the first CM after SM Krishna to decline the facility. Krishna did it late in his tenure. Six other CMs, including Siddaramaiah during his first term between 2013-2018, had enjoyed the privilege.